Many common upper-body issues—including neck and shoulder soreness, hunched back, forward head posture, and rounded shoulders, as well as buffalo and dowager’s humps—are strongly linked to poor scapular (shoulder blade) mobility.
To better understand what’s happening in your upper back, it’s important to first learn the basic anatomy and true function of the scapula. From there, I’ll guide you through five simple self-assessment tests to evaluate your scapular health, followed by a two-phase activation routine designed to relieve upper-body discomfort and restore better movement.
The Unique ‘Floating’ Scapula: How It Affects Your Body
Most bones in the human body are connected through joints. The scapulae, however, are unique in that they are highly mobile yet “floating” bones. Located on the back of the rib cage, they connect to the skeletal framework only at its outer edges through the clavicle. Because of their unique position, the scapula’s stability and smooth movement depend largely on the surrounding muscles.
