One shoulder is higher than the other: symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment adjustment, exercise therapy, necessary exercises and massage

In the article, we consider what to do when a person has one shoulder higher than the other.

Lowered, and at the same time asymmetrical shoulders are not only a visual defect, but also a symptom of a disruption of the musculoskeletal system. In this regard, it is simply impossible to leave a defect.

Main reasons

The situation when one shoulder is higher than the other is most likely a sign of stoop or curvature in the spine. As a rule, such a problem is faced by those people who are forced to spend a long time at the computer, and, in addition, schoolchildren and students sitting at their desks for a long time.

How can a defect be corrected by doing exercises?

Correcting a defect when one shoulder is higher than the other is necessary, because a violation of posture can affect not only the appearance, but also the work of many internal organs. Among the shoulder therapy options, the following justify themselves:

• Classes in breathing exercises. Often a violation of posture is associated with various psychological or somatic problems. So, for example, people who are depressed even breathe in a completely different way - irregular small breaths. Properly breathe deeply and evenly. This is what helps with posture no worse than any exercise. You need to take long breaths, and a person will see how his posture is literally aligned before our eyes. This is due to the filling of the lungs with air, which causes the chest to expand. What else can be done if one shoulder is taller than the other?
• Exercise “plank” has a positive effect on the condition of the spine, thanks to it muscles are toned. For this exercise you need to lean on your elbows and socks. In that case, if performed systematically, this will help improve posture and raise the lowered shoulder. When one shoulder is higher than the other, how to fix it?
• It is also worth doing classical exercises using dumbbells. To perform the exercise, they take dumbbells in their hands and bring them over their heads. You need to start ten times a day, performing three approaches. To begin with, it is better to use dumbbells from two kilograms, gradually increasing the load.

Swimming

In addition to the described exercises, swimming helps to raise the lowered shoulder. Moreover, it’s quite simple to enjoy and swim for pleasure. A similar method of relaxation will be useful for neurosis and depression, which often cause one shoulder to be higher than the other.

How else can you correct shoulder drooping?

Asymmetrical shoulders are the first sign of scoliosis. This is a very serious disease that can manifest itself even at a young age in the form of posture curvature. At an older age, people experience pain and impaired activity of many organs. First of all, due to problems with posture, the heart, stomach, and lungs can suffer.

It is extremely difficult to cure scoliosis without the help of doctors. In any case, the help of a chiropractor and an osteopath will be required. To correct posture, you can use a special corset, but it certainly will not fix the shoulders, but only help to consolidate the effect and make the muscles keep your back straight. Next, let's talk about factors that can affect the fact that one shoulder is higher than the other in an adult and a child.

Factors affecting shoulder prolapse

Today, experts suggest that several processes are at the heart of such a defect at once:

• The presence of a hereditary predisposition.
• The presence of congenital changes in the nervous, muscle and bone system.

These reasons are not fully understood. But the main of them is considered general weakness, along with the underdevelopment of the ligamentous and muscular apparatus, which is most dangerous during a period of intensive growth at the age of six to eight years. In combination with provoking factors (we are talking about poor posture, slight natural asymmetry of the pelvis and legs), all this leads to the appearance of curvature of the spine.

The omission of the shoulders against the background of scoliosis can be freely inherited, as well as it is acquired during difficult births, as a result of improper swaddling, and later on when bruises and injuries of the spine are received, during prolonged uncomfortable forced poses and undesirable overloads. Now let's move on to the diagnosis of this defect.

What if one shoulder is taller than the other?

Diagnostics

Before starting treatment of the defect in question, it is necessary to conduct a detailed diagnosis of this disease. Indeed, absolutely every organism is strictly individual, and in the course of therapy all its features should be taken into account. At first, the doctor will talk with the patient and carefully find out what and where he is worried. Then they examine the shoulders and back in a bent and straight position.

A chiropractor draws attention to the asymmetry of the shoulder blades, muscles and spine. The symmetry of the hips and shoulders is checked, the length of the legs is measured. Radiography of the spine is necessarily carried out in two projections: the horizontal and vertical position of the patient’s body is taken into account. Only after a detailed diagnosis does treatment begin.

Treatment adjustment

Treatment in this case differs in a difficultly predicted result, the effectiveness of which depends largely on the patient himself. Treatment consists of the following three methods of therapy:

• Mobilization of the curved region of the spine.
• Warp correction.
• Achieving stabilization of the spine.

To correct the existing deformation, when one shoulder is higher than the other and with scoliosis, manual therapy methods are effective. They are based on the fact that during manipulations on the spine, nerve endings that are located in the vicinity of it are irritated, and a reflex effect is carried out on the whole organism. This allows you to achieve general recovery along with improving well-being and leveling the lowered shoulder.

Spinal stabilization

However, the main and most difficult task, the solution of which depends on the success of treatment as a whole, is not mobilization, but stabilization of the spine. It is worth noting that when lowering the shoulders, correction of the deformation, which is not supported by measures that would ensure stabilization of the spine, is simply ineffective.

With conservative treatment, doctors usually carry out activities that are aimed at unloading the spine. To do this, use orthopedic styling along with corset therapy, development of the muscles of the back, shoulders and trunk (for this, patients are engaged in special physiotherapy exercises), restorative and tonic procedures in the form of electrical stimulation of the muscles of the back, physiotherapy, massage and a course of vitamin therapy.

According to most experts, conservative therapy is effective only with an initial degree of scoliosis and drooping shoulders. And in the case of severe forms, the main method is surgery. Surgery is prescribed for rapidly progressing scoliosis. Therapy consists in installing various kinds of spine fixers that correct its curvature and level the shoulders.

In the event that this defect cannot be cured, this leads to deformation of the chest and, in addition, to a limitation of lung function, followed by polycythemia along with pulmonary hypertension, heart failure (due to excessive pressure from the chest).

In order to avoid all the unpleasant consequences, you need to understand that proper posture makes a person not just more attractive, but contributes in many respects to the healthy functioning of absolutely all systems and organs.

It is very scary if a child has one shoulder higher than the other. How to avoid this?

How to avoid drooping shoulders in a child?

Preventive measures against drooping shoulders in children and adolescents are extensive. For example, incorrect planting with crawling in infancy can adversely affect the occurrence of spinal deformity in the baby years later. Further we cover the most important aspects of the prevention of the defect in children and adolescents:

• You should never try to get ahead of the physical development of the baby. The baby must necessarily begin to roll over or crawl when his body is strong enough for such purposes. This is especially true for independent walking. Orthopedic surgeons believe that the longer the baby crawls and thereby distributes its weight and load to four limbs, the stronger and more even its shoulders and spine will be in the future.
• When parents are walking with the baby by the handle, they need to consider that it is only for adults that no effort is required to hold the child by the hand. But from the height of children's growth, a small body has to work hard. The fact is that the baby, in fact, remains in a position with the handle extended upwards for a certain time (accordingly, his shoulder is lifted, and his hips, in turn, do not work evenly). In this regard, this circumstance should be taken into account and hands should be changed more often so that the baby subsequently does not drop one shoulder down. First you need to lead the child by the right handle, and after five minutes already by the left, and so on.

• The crib should not be very soft. Ideally, you should consult a specialist and buy a good orthopedic mattress for your baby. The same thing applies to the pillow.

Massage

Massage with the lowering of the shoulder, as well as with scoliosis, is used comprehensively. Thanks to massage, muscles are strengthened, blood circulation is activated along with metabolism, and, in addition, a general strengthening effect is exerted on the entire motor system. Massage should be carried out in accordance with generally recognized principles and established rules. Thus, only a qualified specialist should do the massage.

In addition, the massage therapist should clearly see the task and massage technique for each patient. A full therapeutic course of massage must necessarily consist of different procedures, and not from repetitive and stereotyped actions.

Then it will turn out to correct the curvature of the spine.

One shoulder above the other is not the norm, and this must be remembered.