SHOULDER PROCEDURE
Minimum Prerequisite
BRM 2 (1 - 8) & BRM 3 (1-6)
Shoulder Procedure (Solo) - SUMMARY
With the client sitting, stand at the opposite side to the
shoulder being worked on.
Cradle the forearm of the side you are working on.
Position the forearm horizontally at about mid-chest,
maintaining their elbow at 90˚ and their shoulder open
from the trunk.
Move 1 - Anterior move performed with the fingers of
the opposite hand over the mid-point of the posterior
deltoid and triceps tendon, which lies deeper to it. The
move is best performed with the thumb of the same
hand resting on the humeral head and whilst adducting
the shoulder joint to its limit.
Move 2 - Once the shoulder has fully adducted to the
opposite side perform a percussive strike to the humeral
head in the direction of the neck.
Move 3 - Return the arm into the starting position and
perform a supero-lateral move on the anterior deltoid at
it’s mid-point.
Repeat on the opposite side.
PAUSE
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It is advisable to assess the overall response of your
client to Bowen Therapy treatments prior to per-
forming this procedure especially in an acute epi-
sode of a long-standing shoulder issue. Conclude
that the procedure is best applied at a later treat-
ment session. Shoulder problems can take many
weeks to resolve even with successful application of
this and other appropriate procedures. The described
warming-up exercises will greatly enhance the
results of this procedure. The tendons around the
joint are easily aggravated and strained therefore it
is important to encourage the client to rest and
recuperate the area of concern to the maximum. As
well as perform the prescribed ‘warming-up’ exer-
cises each day.
Note: Don’t overtreat the area with more than 2
Bowen Therapy Shoulder procedures 1 week
apart per month - as time between treatments is
vital to allow the tendons to regenerate and for
calcification and adhesions to resolve.
Therefore, it is recommended to perform 2 succes-
sive Bowen Therapy Shoulder procedures followed
by 3 weeks of rest to the shoulder area.
Meanwhile, other Bowen Therapy sessions and pro-
cedures can be scheduled and other procedures
used during this time.
by Jonathan Damonte for The North American Bowen Teaching College Inc.

‘The Starting Point’

This procedure is best performed with the aid of an

assistant who cradles and moves the client's arm
and shoulder whilst the therapist performs the pro-
cedure. Using an assistant to perform the procedure
aids the therapist by allowing them to challenge the
muscles and tendons more efficiently than can be
achieved when performing the procedure alone. The
procedure can be modified to suit the therapist in a
number of ways.

The Shoulder procedure is performed with the cli-

ent ideally sitting, though it can be performed with
the client standing or laying on their back. Treat
both shoulders and always treat the better shoulder
first, unless used during sports events where it is
best to treat the injured shoulder first and then the
better shoulder as the pause can be sneaked in this way

and the athlete can resume their sport immediately.

Starting Point Move 2 Position

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A. Shoulder Procedure - Therapist & Assistant
Move 1
The Assistant stands facing the patient and holds
the their shoulder and arm at the elbow and wrist
with the clients forearm horizontal and at mid-chest
level. The client's elbow is bent at 90˚ and the
shoulder joint open beyond the trunk of the client.
The client's shoulder and arm need to be as relaxed
as possible. The therapist and assistant communi-
cate to the client that their shoulder and arm will be
moved across to their opposite shoulder to stretch
and open the shoulder capsule being worked on. As
the client's shoulder might have limited mobility it
is very important they remain relaxed and the assis-
tant and therapist move the shoulder capsule only
within its movable limit.
The therapist stands behind the client facing the
posterior deltoid. Place the palmar aspect of both
thumbs onto the posterior deltoid at a point between
the axilla and the head of the humerus and 1 finger-
width distal, while the arm is held by the assistant
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Modules 1-2 Bowen Therapy Instruction Manual
as described above. Draw skin posteriorly and under
the posterior border of the posterior deltoid and
long head of triceps brachii tendon, turn both
thumb-tips under the defined edges of posterior
deltoid and the triceps tendon deeper. With the
thumbnails back-to-back the posterior deltoid and
triceps tendon are firmly challenged anteriorly, the
therapist can now signal the assistant to begin mov-
ing the arm and shoulder. While the arm is being
moved and when the shoulder is at approximately
90˚ to the trunk the tension in the challenged pos-
terior deltoid and triceps tendon increases notice-
ably, it is at this point the therapist releases the
challenge anteriorly over the triceps tendon.
Move 2
The client’s arm is moved in a continuous manner
and without pause until it is fully adducted by the
assistant at this point the therapist strikes the
humeral head with the ulnar side of their fisted
hand in the direction of the cervical spine of the cli-
ent. This blow is designed to jolt any adhered tis-
sues within the client's shoulder capsule.
by Jonathan Damonte for The North American Bowen Teaching College Inc.

Move 3
The arm is returned to the ‘starting point’ and the
therapist reaches over the clients shoulder and
places the palmar aspect of 2nd and 3rd fingers of
both hands on a mid-point of the anterior deltoid
adjacent and distal from the coracoid process. Push
skin slack infero-medially to the inferior border of
the anterior deltoid, curl the finger-tips around the
inferior border of the anterior deltoid and apply
slow gentle challenge supero-laterally to the anteri-
or deltoid, move over the anterior deltoid supero-
laterally and release the challenge.

Perform Moves (1 - 3) on the opposite shoulder.

Provide the client with details on the required

exercises and demonstrate these for them each
time they come for treatment. Ensure they wait
till the next day before attempting these as it
important to allow the area worked on to respond
fully before it is exerted.

Provide A Minimum 2 Minute Pause

1 3

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B. Shoulder Procedure - Therapist Solo
‘The Starting Point’. The client is sitting either in a
chair or on the treatment table. Stand facing the cli-
ent at their opposite thigh to the shoulder being
treated. Cradle the client's arm and shoulder by
cupping their elbow and supporting their forearm
level with the medial side hand. The client's elbow
is bent at 90˚ and the shoulder joint open beyond
the trunk of the client. The client's shoulder and
arm need to be as relaxed as possible.
Move 1
Use the lateral side hand and lay it on the shoulder
so that the thumb is resting on the humeral head
and the palmar aspect of their 2nd, 3rd and 4th fin-
gers rest onto the posterior deltoid at a point level
between the axilla and the head of the humerus and
one finger-width distal. Push skin slack posteriorly,
turn the fingertips under the posterior border of
posterior Deltoid and Triceps tendon. Firmly, apply
anterior challenge to the posterior border of the
posterior deltoid and long head of Triceps brachii
tendon before beginning to adduct the client's arm.
While the arm is being moved and when the shoul-
der is at approximately 90˚ to the trunk the tension
in the challenged posterior deltoid and triceps ten-
don increases noticeably, it is at this point these
muscles are released.
Posterior Deltoid & Triceps
brachii - long head
1
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Modules 1-2 Bowen Therapy Instruction Manual
Move 2
The arm is moved in a continuous manner and with-
out pause until it is fully adducted at this point the
therapist strikes the humeral head with the ulnar
side of their fisted hand in the direction of the cli-
ent’s cervical spine (neck).
Move 3
The arm is returned to it's ‘starting point’ and the
therapist rotates, while still cradling the client’s
arm, to stand beside the shoulder being treated.
Place the palmar aspect of the 2nd, 3rd & 4th fingers
onto the mid-point of the anterior deltoid at a point
adjacent and distal from the coracoid process. Push
skin slack infero-medially to the inferior border of
the anterior deltoid, curl the fingertips and apply
slow gentle challenge supero-laterally to the anteri-
or deltoid, move over the anterior deltoid supero-
laterally and open the fingertips to fully release the
challenged muscle.
Perform Moves (1 - 3) on the opposite shoulder.
Provide A Minimum 2 Minute Pause
The entire Shoulder procedure can be repeated on
either arm if necessary to provide an effective
release of the muscles worked on. It is common that
the tension is so great as to limit their release.
Anterior Deltoid
3
by Jonathan Damonte for The North American Bowen Teaching College Inc.
Note: When working on a large client the thera-
pist can stand behind the client with one knee
bent in order to rest the client's arm onto it. This
is to free both hands and be able to address the
client from behind to perform Move (1). If the
client's shoulder is in spasm and cannot be
worked on easily for Move (3) the arm can be
rested onto the client's lap.
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AFTERCARE & EXERCISES
Warming-up exercises for chronic shoulder pain &
poor mobility performed daily will greatly improve
and hasten the clients recovery process.
a) Once a day, rotate the shoulder 6 X in a clock-
wise and 6X in a counter-clockwise direction
without strain. If needed the client can bend for-
ward and let the arm hang as the shoulder turns.
b) Once a day, rest the arm onto a surface and
gently walk into the elbow to stretch the poste-
rior deltoid and then gently walk to turn away
from the elbow to stretch the anterior deltoid.
Repeat each direction 6X.
Perform the Shoulder procedure for 2 consecutive
weeks and provide 3 weeks of rest. In other words
treat the shoulder area only once a month.
REST, RECUPERATE & RECOVER...
a b
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