Fixing your shoulder

I've been on a holy quest for the last year trying to fix my shoulder from a motorcycle wreck 6 years ago. I saw this article today and it sums up 70% of everything I've learned these last 12 months. If you got shoulder problem these are worth trying.

https://fixtheneck.com/shoulder_blades.html

"One of the more commonly observed postural faults is the protracted [wide apart] and downwardly rotated position of the scapula [top of shoulder blade/scapula tilts down toward front of the body instead of verticle, neutral position on the back]. A correction strategy is to have the patient move the coracoid upward and the acromion backwards [which simply means to rotate or tilt the shoulder blade upward so it's more vertical and lies flat on the back. The coracoid and acromion are little processes or bony knobs on the top part of the shoulder blade, but knowing that didn't help me visualize how to accomplish the movement.]" in Jull, G et al. "A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache" in Spine 2002:27:1835–45.

This quote was a first clue, but I couldn't understand it at the time, and even if I had, my shoulder blades seemed impossible to control, like wiggling one's ears. In a lucky break I remembered the "Fix the Shoulder Blades" exercise a physical therapist had shown me for torn rotator cuffs, and while observing my back in a mirror, I realized I was accomplishing the task of tilting the shoulder blades back up and that I didn't have to think of acromions and coracoids.
It was later I realized why a couple months of working hard at this exercise had stopped my neck from spasming every time I used my arms. It strengthened the muscles that anchor the shoulder blades to the thoracic spine, thus insuring that the weight of the arms and the forces generated by the arms in weight-bearing exercise would be transferred to the sturdier spinal column of the back, rather than hanging off the more delicate cervical spine of the neck. The weight of the arms transfers entirely to the shoulder blades which house the shoulder joint—the upper arm bone, the humerus, inserts into the glenoid cavity of the shoulder blade—and the shoulder blades have three ways of transfering those forces to the spinal column:
1. through a series of joints in the anterior shoulder girdle: acromion process of shoulder blade —> collar bone —> rib cage (consisting of sternum —> costal cartilages —> ribs —> thoracic spine).
2. two groups of muscles, the Rhomboids, and Middle and Lower Trapezius, which attach the shoulder blades to the thoracic spine; and
3. two muscles, the Upper Trapezius and Levator Scapula that suspend the shoulder blades from cervical/neck vertebra.
So if the shoulder blades are not strongly anchored to the thoracic spine, which happens if the rhomboids, and middle and lower traps are weak, it is up to the upper traps and levator scapula to support the shoulder blades, which over-stresses them.
[There were times that my arms, as thin and light as they were, weighed so heavy on my neck that I didn't dare lift the slightest thing.]
If the collar bones are horizontal or slope down to ends of shoulders and/or shoulders slope down steeply and the neck is very long, see Depressed/Droopy Shoulder Syndrome. Do not do part one, the pull down, of Fix the Shoulder Blades exercise because pain and nerve impingement may result. Also do not do part one if the shoulder blades are already low-set on the back. Check #2 below: Check height of shoulder blades.
Requirements:
Two mirrors set up to see one's back and profile without difficulty. For example: a swing out, pivoting mirror on one wall, and a large mirror (wardrobe mirror) on the opposite wall.







"Pivot-N-View Mirror"
Height 22", Width 14"

(Some may be able to learn this exercise without a mirror but I had to observe my shoulder blades. The touch of another person was not sufficient, neither was another person telling me what my shoulder blades were doing. I needed to see for myself.)

Exercise Preliminaries:
1. Check slope of collarbones - if they are depressed or horizontal, this is an indicator that the shoulder blades are already set to low in back. Do the next test, #2.2. Check height of shoulder blades (see next illustration: Finding T-2 and T-3) – if shoulder blades are set too low, the upper trapezius is over-stretched and weak, while the lower trapezius is too strong and short, which pulls the shoulder blades too low in back. Skip part #1 of the exercise, "Pulling Down the Shoulder Blades." It is definitely not needed because the shoulder blades are already set too low.

3. Check distance between shoulder blades - if less than 5 inches apart do not do part 2- "Pinching the shoulder blades." The muscles between shoulder blades are already strong.
— For those with depressed shoulder blades, "Pinching the shoulder blades" should still be okay if the shoulder blades at rest are more than 5 inches apart in back. But make sure at the same time to also "shrug" or lift the tops of the shoulders, an inch or so, toward the ears. The pinching together of shoulder blades helps strengthen the rhomboids, while lifting the shoulders activates and shortens the upper trapezius. Both the rhomboids and upper trapezius are over-stretched when shoulder blades are depressed.
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The Exercise: While watching one's back in the mirror follow these steps:
#1— Pulling Down the Shoulder Blades: Slightly lift the tops of the shoulders, then rotate them back and down in a smooth motion that continues by pulling down the shoulder blades (scapulas). The effort should be felt in the mid to lower back, where muscles from below — the lower trapezius and perhaps lower fibers of serratus anterior (see last illustration below) contract and pull down on the shoulder blades. (the shoulder blades don't actually move much, and they shouldn't, but they tilt up vertically and the kephotic curve of upper and mid-back lessens.) Very importantly, the movement takes place in back and not directly on top of shoulders. Done correctly there is minimal depression at top of shoulders. [Self Check #1: facing the mirror repeat the pull down and check that the tops of the shoulders do not depress]

**Alternate Arm Position for Pulling Down the Shoulder Blades: Dr. Evan Oser recommends the following: Stand in front of a door or wall, place forearms against the surface (a wall plank position) thereby stabilizing scapula in a slight upwardly rotated position (more vertical). And then pull down the shoulder blades. This modification helps avoid pulling down on top of shoulders.

See the video: Best Exercises for Shoulder Impingement.

to continue...
#2— Hold #1 and add Pinching the Shoulder Blades Together without letting shoulders shrug up and hold both for five seconds. Effort should come from between the shoulder blades, not from moving or twisting arms or hands. (#2 is not needed if shoulder blades are generally held less than five inches apart*at rest; which indicates that intrascapular muscles are already strong.
*this measurement may be closer to six inches depending on a person's bone structure; if uncertain, aim for maximizing shoulder span at rest; shoulder span narrows whether shoulders are rounded forward (when shoulder blades are too far apart) or pulled back too far (when shoulder blades are too close together).
#2 for Depressed Shoulder Blades - Let the shoulder blades shrug up while pinching them together. See action of Rhomboids and Middle Trapezius in the following Illustration:


#3 — Lift the chest with a breath to stretch tight chest muscles (pectorals). The pectoralis minor, when tight, is the muscle that pulls the top of the shoulder blade down toward the front of the body (see illustration below). Slouched upper body posture restricts chest expansion, and leads to short, tight chest muscles and shallow breathing. Over-developing chest muscles without corresponding development of back muscles does the same thing. I still remember how good it felt to lift my chest and take an unrestricted breath for the first time in a long time.

#4 — Hold all positions and tense back muscles, getting them to "pop out" for an isometric strengthening exercise.
[Self Check #2: Adjust mirrors to see upper body in profile. Hold all positions of the exercise and observe results on posture. Hopefully flattening of thoracic kephosis and lifting of chest is seen.]
At first aim to get the movements right. Then hold for longer and do more repetitions. If there is a feeling of strain and arching of the mid and lower back, adjust the effort accordingly (the lower trapezius augments the back extensors in increasing the lumbar lordotic curve), or tighten the abdominal muscles; activation of the rectus abdominis, the vertical "6-pack muscle" down the center of the abdomen, works to tip the pelvis up and back, counteracting the action of the back extensors and flattening the lumbar curve.
How many sets and reps? When I first started, I'd do one set of 5 or 6 repetitions in the morning and one set at night both times in front of the mirror as I was changing clothes; I'd hold each rep about 5 seconds. During the day, I'd do the exercise without mirrors, and whenever correcting whole body posture. As time went on, I'd hold each rep 8 to 10 seconds. Currently, with my neck pain resolved, I do maybe one rep, a couple times a day in the course of correcting my overall posture.
What if the chest muscles are so tight that shoulder blades cannot be pulled down in back? One of the chest muscles—the pectoralis minor—arises from the front of ribs 3, 4 and 5 and inserts on the coracoid process of the shoulder blade. It is responsible for pulling on and tilting the top of the shoulder blade down, toward the front of the body.
If very tight and short, the pectoralis minor may need to be stretched to allow the shoulder blades to tilt back up. It is best if a therapist helps with this. The Unilateral Corner Stretch is reported to yield the best pec minor stretch, but there is a risk that the anterior shoulder capsule will be over-stretched. Mike Reinold has a good home pec minor stretch. Here is a variation for those without a therapy table: Lie on your back on a mat or carpeted floor, with head and upper back supported by a large pillow. Do a "snow angel"—raise arms along the sides until in a wide "V" position, with palms up. Let the shoulders relax and drop back. Feel the stretch in the area of the pec minor (upper chest) that's shown in the illustration, and not the front of the shoulder joint. There should not be any tingling or pain down the arm. Remain in this position for 30 seconds. In time, extend the hold for a minute or more.

Patience is the key. It takes weeks or months for a short, tight muscle, that's been that way for years, to add sarcomere units and lengthen. Be gentle but persistent.

(One reader commented that he takes a hot shower to help loosen tight chest muscles before doing the 'fix the shoulder blade' exercise. Another reader found a marked reduction in muscle tightness with dry needling of trigger points in the chest, upper traps, levator, deltoids, and back (including rhomboids). But a note of caution: "She can needle all these areas, however some spots she can't, due to the risk of hitting arteries and lungs.")

Maintaining good posture is difficult, but in time it feels more natural and in itself is a legitimate exercise that pays off by toning and strengthening postural stabilizing muscles (the Core) so that good posture becomes easier and easier. See Fix the Posture.
*Muscle tone is muscle contraction/tension that we are not consciously aware of. Without muscle tone, our bodies would fall in a heap. Ultimately the goal in postural correction is to increase muscle tone in the muscles needed to maintain that correction and decrease muscle tone in muscles that oppose it. And by doing so, develop balanced posture that we don't have to continually think about to maintain. That means balanced posture must turn into a habit.

An exception to use of part one of Fix the Shoulder Blades Exercise is a condition called Depressed or Droopy Shoulders Syndrome that is often present in women with low set, steeply sloping shoulders and long necks. Their collar bones (clavicles) slope down toward the shoulder joint rather than the usual slope up. In lateral neck x–rays, all of the 7th cervical vertebra, the 1st thoracic and sometimes part of the 2nd thoracic vertebra are easily seen, when usually the shoulders would prevent visualization. Pain in neck, shoulder, arms and hands is aggravated by downward traction on shoulders and relieved by propping up the arms. Thoracic outlet syndrome may be involved. In Depressed/Droopy Shoulders the shoulder blades are already held too low on the back and don't need to be lower. Maintaining a slight lift of the shoulders helps. Exercises such as shoulder shrugs help with strengthening the upper trapezius. Part 2, Pinch the Shoulder Blades is still useful for depressed shoulders if the shoulder blades with arms at sides are held more than 5 inches apart. Consult a physician or physical therapist. See "The Droopy Shoulder Syndrome" L. Clein, and "The Droopy Shoulder Syndrome" by Swift and Nichols. Rick Olderman has devoted a book to neck pain from Droopy/Depressed Shoulder, Fixing You: Neck Pain and Headaches. However, if you have what I believe is the more common problem: *Upper Trapezius Dominant with weak lower trapezius, an upward slope to collar bones, and shoulder blades riding too high on the back and tilting forward to to the front of body, Olderman's book won't help as much.
*Greater activity in Upper Trapezius vs. Lower Trapezius.
#1. Beyond "Fix the Shoulder Blades": For further strengthening of the upper back when shoulder blades are better stabilized and there's no longer neck or upper back pain with daily activities, see the exercises at www.fitnesseducationseminars.com. First watch Front/Lateral Raises, where Dr. Oser begins by showing what shoulder blade instability looks like. Using the above mirror set-up to observe, start without weights and then progress to light weights. The important points: 1) chest is up and shoulders back, 2) in the Lateral Raise (start arms down at side, straight raise to the side until 90 degree angle with body): when arms come back down, keep shoulder blades strong/stabilized, if unable to and shoulder blades drop quickly, that shows weakness in scapular stabilizers, 3) in Front Raise (raise straight arms to the front until 90 degree angle): shoulder blades should come around to the side and not wing out from the ribs, and 4) muscle tension in neck and upper trapezius should be minimal. With any instability/weakness do not use weights, weight of arms only until stability improves. Also see Lat Pull-Down in front of the body (never the Lat Pull-Down behind the head! Doing resistance exercises at the end of the shoulder's range of motion (ROM) risks injury. A Thera–band anchored at the top of a closed door with a knot so both ends hang down can substitute for a machine. (Try to balance work outs to avoid shoulder/anterior rotator cuff problems. If lots of pushing exercises are done like push-ups or bench presses, or lifting up exercises like the front/lateral raises, also do pulling down exercises like lat pull downs or try pull ups/chin ups.)
#2. Beyond "Fix the Shoulder Blades": Once the excessive kyphotic curve of the upper back (if it was still flexible) is reduced and upper back extensors are strengthened, (Through activation of the middle and lower parts of the trapezius, which "reinforce the upper back extensors" Kendall) there is still the effects that long term slouched posture have on lower body posture. Sustained correction of slumped posture also depends on reminding oneself to straighten the mid-back and lift the chest during all activities throughout the day. And especially in sitting, when slouching is almost automatic, try to sit straight on the butt, not on the lower back, and maintain the lumbar curve by sitting back in a chair with a lumbar support. Keep the chest high. See the following video for proper sitting posture For a neat reminder see the "4-Finger Posture Correction in Sitting" Video. Learning to stand straight is a challenge too. I finally understood that I had always been leaning forward when I found it felt unnatural to stand straight against a wall—with butt, shoulders/upper back, head# touching and knees slightly bent. (#if the head doesn't touch, do not force and do not tilt it back; but straighten excessive thoracic kephosis, if still flexible, with a deep breath, which will bring the head back, or do the Fixing the Shoulder Blades Exercise)
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A more detailed look at Fix the Shoulder Blades Exercise:It helps to think of the shoulder blades as two rigid plates lying on the back ribs, and tethered at the top to the outer side of the collar bone (the clavicle) and having a pivot point at the shoulder joint (see "Correction #1" below). In poor posture the shoulder blades glide up the upper back's exaggerated kephotic curve like it was a hill, and their tops tilt downhill, while the bottoms tilt up. And as well, they have drifted apart, and have ridden down the curve to the sides, which causes them to tilt down at the outside edge and tilt up at the edge closer to the spine.
What is needed for improved posture is: #1—to rotate the shoulder blades upward (and back) to a more vertical position. This requires they be pulled* down the "hill" by muscles such as the lowest fibers of the Serratus Anterior and the Lower Trapezius. (Kendle) (see illustration of Correction #2 below) At the same time the kyphotic curve straightens.
Pulling down the shoulder blades is opposed by the pectoralis minor, which attaches the coracoid to the 3rd through 5th ribs in front. Tightness of the pectoralis minor can be seen when lying on one's back on a firm surface with arms at sides and the shoulders don't relax on the surface but are held above it. Stretching of the pectoralis minor can be done. See the following Youtube video—Pectoralis Minor stretches. (Tight pectoralis minor muscles can cause Coracoid Pressure Syndrome—tingling, numbness or weakness down the arm from compression of the brachial plexus (nerves to arm and hand) and can mimic Carpal Tunnel (see following video—False Carpal Tunnel from Pectoralis Minor). Also can cause pain in the upper trapezius, which spasms trying to lift the shoulder girdle from the nerve cords. Pain worsens when wearing a heavy coat, backpack or shoulder bag, or carrying a heavy weight.)
In pulling down the shoulder blades, the back extensors activate to a degree and the lordotic curve of the lower back increases. If uncomfortable, tighten the abdominals to counteract.
And #2—to pull the shoulder blades closer together (only needed if they are usually held more than 4 inches apart in one's usual posture). The muscles used are the Middle and Lower Trapezius and the Major Rhomboids. (Kendle)

But it seems nothing about the body is ever simple. The serratus anterior that helps pull the shoulder blades down, also tries to pull the shoulder blades apart, which there's already too much of. And the rhomboids (major and minor) that can pull the shoulder blades together also cause them to elevate (shrug up) or ride up the back—also not wanted. So a great deal of coordinated action is needed for the shoulder blades to move in the desired direction. However, the details of which muscles control which movement isn't really important; what is important is the knowledge that it's possible to do the exercise and to keep trying until it looks and feels right.
Continue to Fix the Posture




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Hey man, great info! Thanks!