Have you ever had shoulder pain that just won’t quit? Whether it’s s dull ache, a sharp twinge, or that annoying restriction when you reach or lift, you’re not alone.
So, I just recorded this video for you…
This isn’t just another quick-fix video. It’s a deep dive into what’s really going on in your body, because understanding how your shoulder is designed, and what it truly needs to function well, is the first step to finding lasting relief.
Here are 5 things you might take away from this video:
✅ 1. Understand what’s really causing your shoulder pain
✅ 2. Discover how your ribcage could be part of the problem
✅ 3. Get clarity on how your shoulder is designed to move
✅ 4. Learn how breathing affects shoulder tension
✅ 5. Walk away with hope—and tools for long-term relief
This video will help you connect the dots and give you the insights you need to start feeling better, because healing begins with understanding.
Are you ready to ease your shoulder pain? Move more freely and easily, and feel more energized?
Rather read the transcript?
here it is…
Have you been waiting for your shoulder pain to go away of its own accord?
You might be waiting a long time!
So today I’m going to share something that might surprise you. The pain might not actually be coming from your shoulder at all! It could be coming from your ribs, or even your back. That could be where the problem is coming from.
Hello and welcome, i’m Sarah Gowans, remedial massage and cranioacral therapist at Blossoming Me and the Healthy Learning Lounge. Here we are a sanctuary, for you to tap in, to nurture your journey to health, wellbeing and a positive mindset. We focus on helping you clear stresses, tensions, and blocks that can hold you back, from living your most fulfilling life.
Today I’m going to help you understand why your shoulder pain may be lingering and what might be causing it. Let’s dive into what’s really going on.
Shoulder pain can make everyday movements like brushing your hair, cleaning your teeth, grabbing a cup off a shelf, or even falling asleep, feel painful and frustrating. Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues, affecting up to 26% of adults at any given time. So you’re not alone.
But why does shoulder pain happen? And why does it seem to stick around for so long?
One of the biggest culprits our ribs and upper back. If they’re stiff or misaligned our shoulders have to compensate. This extra strain can lead to pain, inflammation, and reduced mobility.
Another hidden factor? Stress and shallow breathing. When we’re stressed, we tend to breathe shallowly, in a restricted manner. This can tighten the muscles around our shoulders, locking in tension and making the stress as well as the pain even worse.
How our shoulder is built
To truly grasp why shoulder pain happens, we need to take a closer look at how our shoulder is built. This is important because the way that our shoulder is structured is the key to the incredible range of motion that our shoulders have. But it’s also why our shoulders are prone to injury.
Our shoulder is a ball and socket joint, where our humerus, our upper arm bone, connects to our scapula, or shoulder blade. Unlike the hip which has a deep socket, for added support, our shoulder has a shallow socket. Meaning it relies on soft tissues like muscles tendons and ligaments, to help it stay in place.
Key parts of our shoulder:
Key parts of our shoulder include the rotator cuff muscles: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and the subscapularis, that stabilise and move our shoulder.
The deltoid muscle, the large muscle responsible for lifting and rotating our arms. It’s along the upper arm, here.
The clavicle, or collarbone. These are the stabilising bridge between our sternum, our chest bone, and the shoulder blade.
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that deepens the socket for added support.
A solid foundation
Our shoulder joints don’t work in isolation. They rely on a solid foundation, our rib cage and upper back. Our rib cage provides stability, our upper back supports healthy movement.
Because these structures all work together, tightness in the area, like ribs, or our upper back, can disrupt the entire system. If our ribs are stiff or misaligned, our shoulder movement may become restricted. Increasing the risk of discomfort or injury. If our upper back is rigid, our shoulders may lose some mobility and flexibility. Our shoulder joint can work overtime, increasing the risk of strain and pain.
What can you do?
Posture can play a huge role in our shoulder pain. If we spend hours sitting, driving, or looking down at our phone, our upper back may round forward. This can lock up our rib cage, forcing our shoulder muscles again to work overtime. This can lead to tightness, discomfort, and inflammation.
Most of us take shallow breaths, most of the time, especially when we’re stressed. This causes the muscles around our ribs and shoulders to tense up. Worsening the stiffness and pain.
By improving our posture, restoring cage mobility, and practicing deeper breathing, we can help release your tension, support healthy shoulder movement, and reduce your pain.
I hope you found value in today’s video. If you did, make sure to like and subscribe. If this resonates with you, please leave us a comment below and let me know what your biggest struggle with shoulder pain is. And join us over the next few weeks, for more tips to nurture your shoulder health and wellbeing, to help you break free from chronic shoulder pain, and ultimately, to take action to start feeling better soon.
And to support your healing journey even further, I’ve created a Cheat Sheet series, “Recognising Signs of Chronic Stress and Small-t Trauma”. To help you restore balance in your body and regain your vitality!
Like a copy?
The link is below.
From my heart to yours, Namaste.
Sarah xx
At Blossoming Me, we’ve worked with so many people who feel stuck in cycles of pain and frustration. But the key to lasting relief often starts with understanding your body, not just where you hurt, but why.
Book your appointment here:
(Step #1 Location: Turramurra; #2 Type: Remedial Massage / Cranio-Sacral Therapy; select Sarah as practitioner, then #3 select: Initial or Follow Up Treatment)
Interested in further reading?
Relaxation Revolution: The Secret to Alleviating Lower Back Pain and Enhancing Your Well-being
How Stress Affects Your Shoulders and Jaw – and One Simple Tip to Relieve It
The Unexpected Link Between Your Shoulders and Wrist Pain
Release Shoulder Tension and Unblock Energy Flow in Your Lung and Large Intestine Meridians
About Blossoming Me
BlossomingMe offers a fully integrated approach to your wellbeing. Located on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. Sarah is our Cranio-sacral and Remedial Massage Therapist and health and lifestyle coach. She can help relieve those problematic knots, tightness and other specific ailments to promote a healthy recovery. These complementary massage therapies can be combined to suit your needs, and include: craniosacral therapy, shiatsu, acupressure, reiki, remedial, swedish, and body-mind-massage.
Our qualified Osteopath, Alexis, offers a drug free, minimally invasive, “hands on” treatment focusing on the musculoskeletal system with its associated muscles, tendons, ligaments, membranes, bones and joints. Alexis takes a functional approach. This means that she focuses on the way a component (body part, tissue or group of tissues) performs its role, as well as the way the body works, performs and integrates as a whole. Our team can support you to improve your posture and therefore your overall health.
ional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health professional before you make any changes to your health regime, before dealing with new symptoms, and, if something you have read here has raised any questions or concerns regarding your situation.