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If you carry tension in your upper back, shoulders, or neck, there’s a good chance the muscles surrounding your shoulder blades are involved.

The scapula—better known as the shoulder blade—is surrounded by muscles responsible for stabilizing and moving the shoulder. When these muscles become tight or overworked, you may notice aching between the shoulder blades, stiff shoulders, neck tension, or that familiar feeling of your shoulders constantly creeping forward.

Why Does the Area Around the Scapula Get So Tight?

Think about how much time we spend with our arms in front of us: working at a computer, driving, scrolling on our phones, carrying bags, lifting, or performing repetitive movements at work.

Over time, certain muscles around the scapula can become tense, fatigued, or restricted. This can affect how comfortably your shoulder blades move and contribute to a rounded or forward-shoulder posture.

Some of the muscles commonly involved include the:

• Rhomboids
• Trapezius
• Levator scapulae
• Rotator cuff muscles
• Other surrounding shoulder and upper-back tissues

Why I Work Along the Border of the Scapula

During a deep tissue or therapeutic massage, I may work carefully along the borders of the shoulder blade to address tension in the muscles surrounding and attaching to the scapula.

Slow, intentional pressure in this area can help decrease muscular tension, improve tissue mobility, and allow the shoulder blades to move more comfortably.

For many clients, this is one of those areas where they don’t realize just how much tension they’re carrying until we start working on it.

Can Massage Improve Posture?

Massage isn’t going to permanently “fix” posture by itself—and there really isn’t one perfect posture that everyone needs to maintain.

What massage can do is address muscular tension and restrictions that may be making certain positions uncomfortable. When the muscles surrounding your shoulders and upper back aren’t fighting against you as much, it may feel easier to sit or stand in a more comfortable, upright position.

For longer-lasting changes, massage works especially well alongside movement, stretching, strengthening, and better daily ergonomics.

Your Shoulder Blades Need Attention Too

Sometimes the place you feel the tension isn’t the only place that needs to be addressed. Neck discomfort, tight shoulders, and upper-back tension can all be connected to what’s happening around the scapula.

At Restore Your Essence (RYE), my approach is slow, intentional, and focused on what your body actually needs. If your shoulders have been feeling heavy, tight, or constantly pulled forward, focused therapeutic work around the scapula may be exactly where we need to spend a little extra time.

Ready to give your shoulders some relief? Book your next massage at RYE and let’s work on the tension you’ve been carrying.