Embracing a Holistic Approach to Effective Shoulder Care

Shoulder Taping

👐 Strong Shoulders, Stronger Lives: A Holistic Approach to Shoulder Care

Shoulder pain doesn’t need to sideline you from the activities you love—from golf swings and pickleball serves to weekend gardening marathons. Whether you're managing chronic discomfort or recovering from a recent strain, combining physical therapy and massage therapy can be the game-changing duo that restores comfort, mobility, and confidence.

As a physical therapist and licensed massage therapist, I often find that shoulder dysfunction rarely stems from a single source. That’s why a multi-layered approach is key. Manual therapy techniques like joint mobilizations and targeted soft tissue release help reduce inflammation and pain, while therapeutic exercises support strength, posture, and long-term stability. Massage therapy also plays an important role in decreasing muscle tension and promoting circulation, which accelerates healing and supports movement. Most importantly, we work together to uncover the root causes—whether biomechanical, postural, or even stress-related.

As a physical therapist and licensed massage therapist, I often find that shoulder dysfunction rarely stems from a single source. That’s why a multi-layered approach is key. Manual therapy techniques like joint mobilizations and targeted soft tissue release help reduce inflammation and pain, while therapeutic exercises support strength, posture, and long-term stability. Massage therapy also plays an important role in decreasing muscle tension and promoting circulation, which accelerates healing and supports movement. Most importantly, we work together to uncover the root causes—whether biomechanical, postural, or even stress-related.

What makes physical therapy so effective for shoulder care is the intentional layering of techniques that address the body as a whole. It’s not just about isolated exercises—it’s about integrating joint alignment, muscle balance, movement mechanics, and even breathing patterns to support long-term shoulder health. With every session, we assess how different systems—from the spine to the scapula to the core—interact and influence your shoulder function. This comprehensive approach is what helps clients not only recover from pain or injury but also move forward with more efficiency, resilience, and body awareness.

🙌 Free Shoulder Workshop – August 13 at the Chehalem Chamber of Commerce

To support our Newberg community, I'm offering a free shoulder workshop that dives into the how and why behind common shoulder issues. You’ll learn pain-free movement strategies, simple self-care techniques, and myth-busting insights to improve shoulder health—no equipment or experience needed. Whether you're an athlete, a desk dweller, or somewhere in between, this interactive session is designed to help you better understand your body and what it needs to thrive.

👉 Details:📅 Tuesday, August 13🕕 6:00–7:00 PM📍 Chehalem Chamber of Commerce, 112 N Garfield St #103, Newberg, OR 97132🎟 Free to attend — but seats are limited!📝 Register here to reserve your spot

#LiveInspired,

Karen Baltz Gibbs, PT, DPT, CSCS, LMT, CMP, owner of Garage Training & Rehab Gym