If I were to ask you what causes the pain between your shoulder blades, what would you say?
Would you tell me it was stress? Overwork? Old age? Arthritis? Or your nerves or bones?
Would you be surprised if I told you that the cause of pain between your spine and shoulder blades was most likely…in most cases…muscles?
But, not any old muscles.
Overstretched muscles cause most back pain, especially pain between your shoulder blades.
Pain between your shoulder blades and spine can occur on both sides or just one side, depending on how you use your body. Some people only get shoulder blade pain on their dominant side. That means if they are right-handed, the right side of the back will hurt.
When your muscles are continually overstretched, they have to react. They have to do something to prevent being torn because you would be unable to function.
So, they go into spasm, or contraction. They “splint” themselves.
Your back muscles become taut (which is different from “tight”) to protect themselves from being damaged or ripping off the bone. (Although that can happen in extreme cases.)
When your muscles become taut (think of a rope being pulled from both ends that can’t relax because no one will let go) they become less able to function fully.
They also become crabby.
They cause pain.
Your overstretched muscles are working way too hard. They are not working the way they were designed to work. Muscles are supposed to help us move. They let us flex and bend and stretch.
Bones are supposed to support us. We are not supposed to use our muscles as bones. Our muscles should not get as hard as bones!
You can stop your muscles from being overstretched!
You can get your muscles back to being the way they used to be, but it will take some time and effort.
You’re the only one who can do it.
Well, you could get some help to loosen up muscles that are too tight from a knowledgeable massage therapist but basically you are in charge of your own body.
(Many massage therapists only work where it hurts–your back, in this situation–and your back pain is the symptom, not the cause. A skillful massage therapist will also need to loosen the too-tight muscles in front of your body.)
Here are the steps to get rid of the pain between your shoulder blades.
1. Eliminate your forward head or forward arm posture to stop overstretching your back muscles.
2. Strengthen your back.
3. Lift your shoulder blades and roll them backward so they will become more movable.
4. Squeeze your shoulder blades toward your spine.
5. Educate yourself. The more you know about how your body works and what is causing your pain, the better chance you have of getting rid of your pain.
You can learn more at “Knots In Your Back Gone.” Just click that link.
You do not have to have that burning, nagging shoulder blade pain.
