Serious Health Problems Can Come from Having Tight Shoulders, Try the Streches Before It’s Too Late

Author: Heather Poole / Source: Lifehack

Many of us have jobs that entail sitting at a desk all day long. For those of us stuck sitting, we’re typically looking at a computer and don’t have the best posture. I find myself almost shrugging when I hunch over the keyboard at my desk, and it causes a lot of tightness and pain in my neck and shoulders, leading to headaches and discomfort throughout more of the body.

Though common, struggling with tight muscles still causes us to perform poorly in our day to day activities.

Why Having Tight Shoulders Is a Problem You Shouldn’t Ignore

Shoulders are a complex body structure, as illustrated below:

The human shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, but that also puts it at a higher risk of injury and pain.¹ More so, the shoulder is not just a joint; it’s part of the neck, ribs and scapula (shoulder blade).

Even if you don’t have a desk job, think about the way you carry certain items. Do you sling things over your shoulder despite how heavy and awkward it may feel? If you wear a backpack, you may only carry it on one shoulder causing you to walk in a lopsided manor. In order to avoid misusing your shoulder muscles and stay pain free, all four shoulder joints have to work appropriately. Thankfully there are simple stretches to assist you in strengthening stiff muscles and extending healthy motion.

Remember to Warm Up Before Your Try the Shoulder Stretches

It’s a good idea to warm up before stretching as strained muscles in your shoulders can cause injury.² Warming up is as easy as getting your blood flowing. You want to make sure your muscles are physically warm before exercising them.

This can be done by holding your arms out straight in front of you with your elbows locked and pulling your arms back to form a T with your body. You can even warm your muscles by taking a warm shower, jogging in place, or doing some jumping jacks to increase your heart rate.