Shoulder Problems

The shoulder is a very remarkable joint. It is called upon to have an enourmous amount of movement but also strength and stability. It is a ball and socket joint like your hip but it is much more shallow to allow greater movement. However, it is then inherently more unstable. So there are several muscles that work together to support and stabilize while moving it at the same time.

Good posture is extremely important in promoting balance in the shoulder. With increased computer use more people are spending more hours in bad posture. A key problem here is that the shoulders are held in a forward position which shortens the muscles of the chest and neck. Additionally the muscles of the back become lengthened and weakened. This creates further bad posture and places substantial stress on the spine and shoulder joints.

Be alert to slouched and head forward posture as you work. Several times during the day get up and move around. Stretch the arms and neck (gently) backward to counteract the shortening of the chest muscles. Contact me if you would like more specific stretches or advice on these issues.