You’re getting ready for work one morning when you look into the mirror and notice something weird. It looks like you are leaning to the side… but you aren’t. You adjust your feet, just in case, and stand as straight as possible. Nope. Still looks like you are tilting over to the left side. Why? Why is one shoulder positioned higher than the other? Do uneven shoulders mean that something is wrong? How can this be undone? Can it be undone?!
Firstly, instead of panicking, take a breath and know that uneven shoulders don’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Your body adapts to how you use it. Let’s take a closer look at what can cause uneven shoulders and when they may be worth addressing.
Why Are Your Shoulders Uneven?
Having uneven shoulders could be a result of your everyday habits, posture, or muscle imbalances. For example, your posture or even just using one side of your body more than the other (the dominant side).
Remember in this previous blog where we talked about muscle guarding? This is sort of a similar situation. If you consistently have poor posture, some muscles learn to stay tight while others weaken. This can oftentimes lead to rounded shoulder posture (RSP), which causes your shoulder muscles to become longer, thus potentially giving them an uneven appearance.
If posture isn’t an issue for you, your uneven shoulders may be the result of favoring your dominant side. This is mostly common in athletes, especially those who played sports involving overhead motions like throwing or using a bat. Heavy, long-term use of one arm can sometimes lead to uneven shoulders.
Should You be Worried About Uneven Shoulders?
Uneven shoulders aren’t always cause for concern. However, if you can pinpoint the change to an accident or injury, shoulder instability or another underlying issue could be involved.
If you can pinpoint the cause of your uneven shoulders to an accident or injury, you may be experiencing shoulder instability. In other cases, you may be experiencing changes to your spine as you grow (whether it be scoliosis or something such as disc degeneration) that also leads to your shoulders appearing uneven.
If your uneven shoulders are accompanied by pain, weakness, numbness or tingling, or a noticeable loss of movement, it’s best to talk with a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause.
Can Massage Help With Uneven Shoulders?
If muscle tension, overuse, or repetitive movement is contributing to the way you’re holding your shoulders, massage therapy may help relieve some of that tension.
Massage can target tight and overworked muscles around the neck, shoulders, and upper back while supporting comfortable movement and recovery. However, massage won’t correct every cause of uneven shoulders—which is why understanding what’s contributing to the imbalance matters first.
Don’t Just Focus on the Higher Shoulder
When one shoulder sits higher than the other, it is easy to assume that the shoulder is the problem. However, your body does not work just one muscle at a time. The way that you sit, move, work, carry things, play sports, and compensate for tension elsewhere in the body can all influence what you are seeing in the mirror.
If one side of your neck or shoulders constantly feels tighter than the other, a massage therapist can help you identify areas of tension and determine whether your everyday movement patterns may be contributing. At Muscle Anthropology, we serve clients throughout Augusta, Martinez, Evans, and the surrounding areas. Book a massage today!