Did you know that weakness in your trapezius muscle can cause significant problems for your spine? The trapezius, a large muscle spanning from the base of your skull down to the middle of your back, plays a crucial role in the movement of your shoulder blades.
When the upper fibers of the trapezius become long and weak, they can no longer perform their job of moving the shoulder blades up when you raise your arm above shoulder height. This can lead to spinal joint compression in the 40 joints between the base of your skull (the occiput) and T12. When these joints become compressed due to imbalanced muscles, you may experience neck pain, headaches, stiffness, and even nerve impingements.
One of the most common signs of weak trapezius muscles is sloped shoulders. Many people try pulling their shoulders back or down, which only worsens the imbalance. Lower traps shorten, further reducing the natural movement of your shoulder blades.
Take Amy’s Neck and Shoulder Active Treatment Course (for health and fitness pros) or see her in Niagara Falls to learn how to balance your upper and lower trapezius. And for best results, stop doing shrugs with your arms at your sides.
When the upper fibers of the trapezius become long and weak, they can no longer perform their job of moving the shoulder blades up when you raise your arm above shoulder height. This can lead to spinal joint compression in the 40 joints between the base of your skull (the occiput) and T12. When these joints become compressed due to imbalanced muscles, you may experience neck pain, headaches, stiffness, and even nerve impingements.
One of the most common signs of weak trapezius muscles is sloped shoulders. Many people try pulling their shoulders back or down, which only worsens the imbalance. Lower traps shorten, further reducing the natural movement of your shoulder blades.
Take Amy’s Neck and Shoulder Active Treatment Course (for health and fitness pros) or see her in Niagara Falls to learn how to balance your upper and lower trapezius. And for best results, stop doing shrugs with your arms at your sides.
RSS Feed