Articles

Got Shoulder Pain? Watch Your Back!
by Joel Eaby - PT, DPT, ATC

I often have patients come to me with shoulder pain. When we begin strengthening exercises, they’re surprised to learn that the first thing we focus on is strengthening their back muscles rather than working the shoulder itself. The reason is simple: they’re all connected and when the back is weak, the shoulder suffers.

The shoulder is connected to the…
The middle and lower trapezius and rhomboids are part of a group of muscles in your back that attach to and move the scapula (shoulder blade). Squeeze your shoulder blades together and you’ll know which muscles we’ re talking about. Also attached to the scapula is the rotator cuff, the small group of muscles that help control arm movement.

The shoulder is a very mobile and dynamic joint, but it lacks stability. When your arm moves, the shoulder blade moves along with it. When the back muscles are weak and uncoordinated, the shoulder blade will have a tendency to move in a dysfunctional pattern that in turn, causes the rotator cuff to function improperly, resulting in shoulder pain. Strong scapular stabilizers allow the shoulder to move in a healthy pattern during activities such as tennis, golf and weight lifting.

Quick Tips for Proper Scapular Positioning

To find the proper position for your scapula during static activities such as standing, sitting at your desk or driving:

Bottom line? Strong back, healthy shoulder.