Do your shoulders appear uneven when you look at yourself in the mirror? Is one shoulder hanging lower than others, and are you dealing with other symptoms? Uneven shoulders aren’t always symptomatic, but they do suggest that something is a little off about your shoulder anatomy. Below, we take a closer look at what causes shoulder unevenness, what symptoms can present alongside this asymmetrical appearance and how to realign your shoulders.
Causes And Symptoms Of Uneven Shoulders
The onset of slightly or clearly uneven shoulders can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common underlying causes and risk factors for developing uneven shoulders include:
- Poor Posture Habits – Slouching in your seat or having a hunched posture when you’re standing or moving can place additional strain on your shoulders, weakening them over time and leading to an uneven appearance.
- Acute Injuries – Trauma to a shoulder or arm can lead to one shoulder hanging lower than the other, especially if you don’t work to help the recovery process along with physical therapy and range of motion exercises.
- Repetitive Stress – Athletes and some manual laborers who perform certain tasks regularly with a dominant arm may develop muscular imbalances in their arms and shoulders that lead to an uneven appearance across their shoulders. Construction workers, roofers, baseball players and tennis players all regularly put more stress on one shoulder than the other, and that can lead to an uneven appearance.
- Spinal Issues – In some instances, particularly with a growing adolescent, the appearance of uneven shoulders could be the result of an abnormal curvature disorder in the spine. Scoliosis is the most common curvature disorder that leads to uneven shoulders, and it tends to be more common in young adults experiencing rapid periods of growth.
Uneven shoulders don’t always present with additional symptoms. In many instances, patients are only dealing with a visible difference in shoulder appearance, but sometimes uneven shoulders present with additional symptoms like pain, inhibited range of motion, difficulty moving arms and shoulders in specific directions and muscle weakness. It may be wise to discuss your shoulder height discrepancies with your doctor at your next physical, but it would be wise to connect with a doctor if you’re also dealing with some of the additional symptoms mentioned above.
Fortunately, realigning the shoulder height typically isn’t all that challenging. Following a physical examination and a conversation about your daily activities and symptoms, your provider should have a pretty good idea why your shoulders are uneven. They’ll be able to give you some personalized advice based on your unique challenges, but most people will respond well to one of more of the following treatments:
- Controlled exercise
- Physical therapy
- Posture awareness and improvements
- Short-term rest or activity modification
Addressing posture problems and strengthening your shoulder with the help of a physical therapist can restore a more even appearance and combat any additional symptoms you’re experiencing. Surgery is typically only considered if a spinal disorder like scoliosis fails to respond to conservative care.
For more information about shoulder appearance, or for help overcoming a different shoulder issue, connect with Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
