The Link Between Posture and Shoulder Mobility
Did you know that your shoulder movement might be affected by how you hold your head and back? It’s true! If you have a forward neck or hunched back posture, it could limit your shoulder mobility in the end range
In seniors especially, you might notice some trouble reaching high shelves, even without any major shoulder injuries. But why does this happen? The real issue might not be in the shoulder joint itself but how other parts of your body are positioned.
It’s interesting to see how one joint relies on another for smooth functioning. In this case, your shoulder needs your neck and upper back to be in the right position to be able to reach those high shelves.
Conditions like kyphosis, where the upper back rounds forward, are common in older adults and can affect shoulder movement. Poor posture, arthritis, osteoporosis, or developmental issues can contribute to kyphosis.
Kyphosis doesn’t just impact the spine; it also affects the shoulders. The rounded back shape brings the shoulder blades forward and upward, limiting the shoulder’s ability to move freely. This restriction can make daily activities like reaching and lifting a challenge, affecting both physical and social aspects of life.
To address this, it’s important to focus on improving the upper back posture before directly tackling shoulder issues. The Driver Method of treatment finds the origin of the problem and works to fix the underlying issues first. Physical therapy can involve techniques like myofascial release which involves applying gentle and continuous pressure massage into this connective tissue and stretching to loosen tight areas. This, along with exercises like thoracic extensions to strengthen the muscles that support a straighter back will lead to increased shoulder movement with pain. As an added health benefit, active thoracic extensions in seniors will improve trunk mobility helping to improve lung expansion for improved pulmonary function. Increased oxygen means better gas exchange for more efficient muscle contractions.
Understanding the root cause of restricted shoulder mobility is the key. In this case, fixing the upper back posture could lead to improved shoulder movement without directly working on the shoulder itself; a clear example of how all parts of the body need to work together for optimum balance, strength and range of motion. This also means, a person with fixed hunched back posture may have a permanent restriction in shoulder flexibility. No mobilization or manual therapy may improve shoulder range of motion in people with structural/ fixed thoracic kyphosis.
Remember, Physiotherapy using the Driver Method finds the source of the problem and works from there just like solving the puzzle by starting with the right piece!