Pain in the left shoulder and discomfort in the left little finger when playing a musical instrument.
symptom
A week ago, I started experiencing pain in my left shoulder joint and discomfort in my left little finger. The symptoms were most pronounced during movement, particularly pain during internal and external rotation of the left shoulder joint, and discomfort in my left little finger that prevented it from moving smoothly. As I play a musical instrument, these symptoms were significantly hindering my performance activities. I had not received any diagnosis or treatment at a medical institution. Upon initial examination, palpation revealed pain on the posterior aspect of the left shoulder joint during passive movement, internal and external rotation, and poor movement of the left little finger during instrument playing.
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Visitors
Male
76 years old
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Period
June 2026
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Visit Frequency per week
1
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Number of Visits
1
Treatment and progress
During the initial treatment, acupuncture was performed on points that improve the flexibility of the muscles supporting the spine and points that increase the range of motion of the scapula. Acupuncture was also performed to relax the muscles on the ulnar side of the forearm. Immediately after the treatment, the pain during movement of the shoulder joint disappeared, and the little finger also became able to move smoothly. The symptoms were almost completely cured after the first treatment, and no further visits were necessary. During follow-up examinations after the treatment, there were no reports of symptom recurrence or new problems.
Acupressure points used
Symptom score
Functional score
Summary
This case involves pain in the posterior aspect of the left shoulder and discomfort in the left little finger, for which acupuncture treatment targeting the muscles supporting the spine and the area around the scapula was effective. The patient had a previous visit to our clinic, and this time, early consultation after the onset of symptoms prevented the condition from becoming severe. This suggests that the function of the shoulder joint and fingers are closely related in activities requiring specialized movements, such as playing a musical instrument. Early and appropriate treatment minimized the impact on playing activities, and the symptoms completely improved after only the first treatment.
Staff in charge
Director Hiroki Niwa
