Exercises to Correct One Shoulder Being Higher Than The Other

Why Is One Shoulder Higher Than the Other?

One possible cause of uneven shoulders is a muscle imbalance. According to the American Council on Exercise, there are a number of reasons why muscles can be imbalanced, including repetitive motions. When the same muscles are used repeatedly for the same actions, they can become overused or remain partially contracted.

Performing exercises in a single plane of motion or exercises that are limited to a single course, for example, can cause muscle imbalances. To avoid creating this unevenness, vary your exercise program to include a variety of movements: pushing, pulling, rotating, moving sideways and rotationally.

Scoliosis can also play a major role in uneven shoulders. Scoliosis, explains Mayo Clinic, is a sideways curvature of the spine, with symptoms that include uneven shoulders, one shoulder blade appearing more prominent than the other, an uneven waist and varied hip heights.

Uneven Shoulders Exercises Without Equipment

There are several exercises you can do to combat bad posture and correct shoulder height. The UC Irvine School of Medicine suggests:

Dumbbell Exercises for Shoulder Imbalance

Weight training is also helpful in correcting muscular imbalances. Dumbbells allow you to use both shoulders separately to move the same amount of weight, unlike barbells or weight machines, in which your stronger shoulder pulls or pushes more of the weight.

How to Stand Properly

If you're experiencing one shoulder higher than the other with pain, adjusting your posture may be a good starting point for improvement. The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom suggests ways you can correct your posture.

Don't slouch in a chair: Slouching in your chair can increase the tension in your muscles and result in back and shoulder pain. Try to develop the habit of sitting correctly, which may be uncomfortable at first, but will improve as your muscles become conditioned. Exercises that improve slouching include bridges, back extensions and planks.

Some people may have what's called hyperlordosis, which is when you have an exaggerated inward lower back curve that throws the body out of alignment. The NHS recommends doing core- and butt-strengthening exercises and consciously making an effort to improve your posture by keeping your shoulders back and relaxed, weight balanced, legs straight and abdomen pulled in.

Read more on: livestrong