03/11/2025
Struggling with shoulder pain or discomfort?
It might not actually be your shoulder causing the problem…
Shoulder pain rarely comes from one cause; it’s often the result of how the whole system moves and works together.
Think of your body like an orchestra, each muscle has a role to play. When they’re in sync, movement feels smooth and effortless. But if one section starts to play out of time, the whole performance feels off. It might begin subtly, almost unheard to the untrained ear, but over time, if it’s not addressed, the shoulder ends up taking the strain.
🏋️ Quick Tips to Help Your Shoulder:
1️⃣ Optimise your trunk & thoracic spine
A mobile, strong base helps the shoulder move efficiently. Poor trunk control forces the shoulder to compensate.
2️⃣ Build awareness
Notice how you move, not just what you move. Posture, shoulder position, and muscle activation matter. Awareness is the first step to better control.
💡 Bonus tip: Did you know that cueing scapular retraction and narrowing bar grip width during bench press can reduce load across the shoulder?
3️⃣ Create movement variety
Include exercises for the whole chain: back, trunk, chest, and hips, rather than focusing on an isolated movement pattern. After all, that's not how we move!
💡 Bonus: It helps break fear or barriers around movement and reduces local shoulder strain.
4️⃣ Don’t focus on one area
Scapula position, rotator cuff control, shoulder range, and thoracic mobility all matter differently depending on the person. The shoulder works as a complex system, so treat it as one.
