Health & Fitness
May 2019
The Newsletter About Achieving and Maintaining Optimal Well-Being
ARE YOUR SHOULDERS GETTING WEAKER? Four basic tests can tell you a lot. Does your neck ache towards the end of the day? Do you often end up with nagging headaches? While you might think it’s only due to stress, it may also be a result of your daily posture. When we use our arms throughout the day, the shoulder muscles get tired, leading us to use our neck muscles as a substitute. A sure sign of this is when you notice your shoulders rising up closer to your ears. You may also find your spine rounding forward. The sooner our shoulder muscles fatigue, and the more rounded forward we end up, the sooner we notice headaches and neck pain. Begin this exercises while sitting at your workstation, your home computer, or the dinner table in your normal posture: 1. Try to raise both arms up in front and continue overhead without moving your spine. If you can’t get full shoulder motion or have pain, you probably end up slouched without realizing it. 2. Try to roll your shoulders down and back without moving your spine. If you feel this is difficult to do, your muscles are probably keeping your shoulders elevated. PUT A LITTLE SHOULDER INTO IT Think this might be you? Here are 4 BASIC TESTS to try at the end of the day! How To Relieve Neck Pain And Headaches By Strengthening Your Shoulders
3. Raise your arms up and out to the side like a “jumping jack” without moving your spine. If you have pain, you will probably end up slouched without realizing it. 4. Try to clasp your hands behind your back. Now raise your arms up behind you. If you are unable to raise them very far, you have limited shoulder, spine or chest mobility. Now repeat these tests while sitting up straight and allow the spine to move. Compare the difference in your shoulder motions or pain. Of course, self-testing at home is an imperfect way to determine if your headaches and neck pain are coming from poor posture or other shoulder issues. They just show you where your body as limited movement, which may be causing your problems. Handling any problem sooner rather than later, leads to better results and preventing long-term damage, such as arthritis. If you suffer from neck pain, headaches, or shoulder pain, don’t let it linger and cause more damage. Call us today to speak with your physical therapist, or schedule a visit with us for a more complete evaluation.
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