Have you ever considered the silent heroes of your body, your shoulders? They work tirelessly, yet we often overlook them. Let's take a moment to appreciate their role, especially when seated at a desk or engrossed in our work.
Most of us overlook our shoulders and their positioning until we start experiencing tension. However, by the time we pay attention, we might already have an injury due to our neglect of proper shoulder alignment. This could have been prevented if we had been more mindful of our bodies, underscoring the importance of shoulder health.
It's crucial to understand that many shoulder injuries result from poor posture. We often find ourselves slumped over a computer at work, standing with a rounded back, or simply sinking into a chair. These habits can lead to severe health issues, highlighting the necessity of maintaining good posture.
The Mayo Clinic has reported that poor posture can lead to shoulder impingement. The National Library of Medicine studied whether poor posture contributed to tears in the rotator cuff muscles. They found that Postural abnormality increased the risk of tears to either one or both sets of the rotator cuff muscles.
So, that begs the question: How can we decrease the chances of a shoulder injury due to poor posture?
Here's a simple yet effective way to combat slumping: sit or stand straight and roll your shoulders down your back. This minor adjustment can make a big difference in maintaining proper posture and preventing shoulder injuries.
Strengthening the shoulder girdle muscles is another effective way to enhance your posture and shoulder health. These muscles play a crucial role in maintaining shoulder stability and posture, and by strengthening them, you can significantly reduce the risk of shoulder injuries.
What are the shoulder girdle muscles? Well, they are broken into 3-parts;
The Muscles of the Scapula. These muscles originate from the skeleton and insert into the scapula, including the trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboids, and serratus anterior.
The Rotator Cuff Muscles. These muscles originate from the scapula and insert into the tuberculum, stabilizing the glenohumeral joint. The four rotator cuff muscles are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.
The Primary Movers of the Upper Arm. These muscles originate from the clavicle and scapula and insert into the humerus, including the biceps, deltoid, and triceps.
Now that we know these muscles, let’s work on strengthening them. Them. Here is a yoga flow designed to help stabilize the shoulders and improve posture.
