Frequently Asked Questions

Compilation of Questions and Answers for Shoulder Reliever:

Question:

Why do I have nighttime shoulder pain and why does the Shoulder Reliever work so well?

Answer:

Firstly even though you sleep in a position generally beneficial to your shoulder, you do lose gravity when you go horizontal with sleep.  Our system helps keep the spaces of the shoulder open, allowing for blood flow and healing at night to the critical structures of the shoulder.

The whole reason this is occurring is because your deep muscles of the shoulder are relatively weak compared to the overlying muscles.  While our nighttime brace interrupts the injury cycle, our daytime exercise eliminates the underlying cause of the problem in the first place—with just 4 minutes of exercise.

Question:

I have problems with both shoulders. When I look at the man using the traction device in your literature, I see he is sleeping on his side. Would the traction device work for a back sleeper? Can both shoulders be treated at once?

Answer:

Actually, the Shoulder Reliever works best if you sleep on your back. However, you can sleep in any position other than on the shoulder that is wearing the nighttime brace.  You can only apply the traction device to one side at a time. I recommend alternating nights. Probably the most important part of the system is the daytime exercise, which you can use on both sides. Good luck.

Question: 

Will the Shoulder Reliever help shoulder impingement with a bone spur?

Answer:

Yes it does.  By stopping the impingement at night it immediately breaks the injury cycle. The daytime exercises will strengthen the rotator cuff and actually pull down the shoulder in the process.  This process will free up some room under the bone spur, in the process eliminating the impingement.

Question: 

Will the Shoulder Reliever help with Rotator Cuff/Shoulder Calcific Tendinitis?

Answer:

We did not study calcific tendinitis specifically.  We do know that most people with shoulder pain have at least some rotator cuff problems.  We also know that most of that pain at night is due to rotator cuff tendinitis. I do believe that a lot of the pain can be relieved with our system.  I would encourage you to try it.  I certainly think you will know if it will be worthwhile within our 30 day money back guarantee.  Good luck.

Question:

Will the Shoulder Reliever help the problems in my Bursa Area?

Answer:

Our product is designed primarily to help the bursa area.  Both our nighttime device which offloads the bursa and the daytime exercises which strengthen the muscles around the bursa will help your symptoms.  Good luck.

Question:

I lift weights as part of my work out. Twice a week I train my upper body (arms and shoulders). Can I continue my workouts and use the Shoulder Reliever at the same time? Or should I stop? Please advise. Thanks.

Answer:

The short answer is this.  Take 3 weeks off the upper body workout while using the Shoulder Reliever.  That will reestablish the appropriate muscle balance between the deep and the large muscles of the shoulder.

Question: 

My mom has shoulder pain from wheelchair use. Will the Shoulder Reliever help her?

Answer: 

Yes, I think our product can help your mom.  It sounds like she is impinging upon the uppermost aspect of the rotator cuff when she boosts herself.  This is a common complaint for those restricted to wheelchairs or other conditions that require a lot of arm use for body support.

The exercise component will strengthen all aspects of the rotator cuff.  Most importantly to your mom, the lower muscles will strengthen with our exercise.  This will take the load off the upper aspect of the rotator cuff when she boosts. Hope this helps and good luck to your mom.

Question: 

Have I had shoulder pain too long for Shoulder Reliever to help me?

Answer:

You are not too late.  In our published research patients had shoulder pain for an average of 6 months and some as long as 2 years. Good luck.

Question:

Can I keep the traction in the brace loose? 

Answer:

The magic is not in the traction as much as wearing it loosely and keeping it on as long as possible at night. The main benefit is keeping you from sleeping on the affected shoulder and keeping the arm from going above your head.

Question:

I have a rotator cuff tear, but I want to continue fly fishing, and I want to avoid shoulder surgery. Is this possible?

Answer:

Just remember there are tears and there are tears.  60% of 60 year olds have a tear in their rotator cuff and you can bet most of them can fish for an hour.  So not all tears have to be put under the knife and stitched up. Do not be afraid to try Shoulder Reliever. The surgery works, but the recovery is typically 6 months.  

Question:

I am an avid tennis player with a rotator cuff tear. Should I opt for steroid injections or use your Shoulder Reliever?

Answer:

Steroid injections are a good bandaid.  Unfortunately I do not think there will be any muscle strengthening under the influence of the steroid (the steroids used are catabolic not anabolic).  I would strongly encourage you to try our Shoulder Reliever. We think it affords the best and most efficient way to keep the shoulder strong, functional and pain free. 

We have gotten a lot of tennis players better. Good luck.

Question:

What if the muscle attached to the rotator cuff is completely detached? Will the Shoulder Reliever strengthen the muscles to compensate the tear?

Answer:

Our research shows that reattaching the muscle to the bone with surgery generally does not work. What the Shoulder Reliever does is strengthens the entire shoulder system to compensate for tear or previous injury. Surgery has marginal benefit if the complete tear is old, i.e.: greater than 2 months.   If the tear is new many orthopedic surgeons would argue that surgery is beneficial.