Written By: Jacqui Vooge, MOT, OTR-L, CHT, Occupational Therapist / Clinic Director, Teton Therapy Cheyenne
Stress can cause a lot of different ailments in the body; however, it is often overlooked as a cause of shoulder pain. Combining prolonged uncontrolled stress and poor posture increases the risk of having shoulder pain, adding to the vicious cycle of pain and stress.
Poor Posture
Poor posture is associated with muscle imbalances where some muscles are tight and shortened, and others are weakened and lengthened. A posture with a forward head and rounded shoulders creates weakened back muscles such as the lower trapezius and rhomboids and tight chest muscles such as the pectoralis and upper trap. These muscle imbalances then cause problems with joint alignment, ultimately leading to rotator cuff injuries, shoulder impingement and many other shoulder injuries.
Stress
It is well known that psychological stress can cause physical symptoms including muscle tension related to upper back, neck and shoulder pain. Many people unconsciously elevate their shoulders when under stress and, over time, there is a chronic muscle imbalance between the muscles of the shoulders, upper back and neck. These can all contribute to shoulder pain. Stress has also been known to collectively contribute to a decline in overall health and wellness, including psychological and emotional well being.
Chronic stress also increases cortisol levels in the nervous system which then impacts how strongly people perceive pain. This creates a vicious cycle between stress and pain: Stress causes shoulder tension which creates rounded posture then creates more strain and more pain which then causes more stress.
Unless this cycle is broken with stress and postural management, it will continue as a feedback loop causing more strain and more stress.
What to do
Although prevention is the best course of action for shoulder pain, many people do not realize this is even happening until the pain has started. It is important to seek medical evaluation if you experience weakness, numbness/tingling, severe pain at night, and/or pain that has lasted longer than a few weeks.
Physical and Occupational Therapists can help by educating in effective healthy lifestyle modifications to help with stress management and prescribe a plan of care to help correct muscle imbalances and posture.
The therapists at Teton Therapy are experts in stress injuries and can help you break the cycle of chronic stress and injury.
Call, text or click to schedule your free consultation today!
In Cheyenne, 307-514-9999,
In Lander, 307-332-2230,
In Riverton, 307-857-7074
or find us on the web at TetonTherapypc.com
