Rotor Cup, Rotary Cuff, Rotator Cup….we’ve heard them all - the string of names people use to refer to the main structure of the shoulder. The real term, just to clear things up, is rotator cuff. Often, when people come in with a diagnosed rotator cuff injury, we will ask them which muscle. The response is usually a blank stare followed by “well…..the rotator cuff….like I told you”. So, in the interest of further clarification, let’s talk about the different parts of the rotator cuff and what they do. Rotator cuff is a term referring to a group of four muscles that cross the shoulder joint and provide varying actions for the arm. These muscles are

What is it about a hug that feels so good? Why is a warm touch on the hand or arm so comforting? Why is receiving a massage one of the most calming and beneficial things we can do?

Touch, especially skin-to-skin contact, releases a beautiful hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin has been dubbed “the hormone of love and bonding”. While it is often thought of as a female hormone, known for its role in labor and lactation in women, oxytocin offers a whole host of other beneficial effects for both women and men alike. Oxytocin reduces anxiety, blood pressure, cortisol levels, fear, and even decreases pain sensitivity.