No one likes dealing with shoulder pain. The discomfort and immobility can prevent you from doing daily activities like grabbing something off a high shelf or reaching up to brush your hair. So, when your shoulder starts hurting, it’s important to figure out why.

Often, shoulder pain stems from an injury. For example, rotator cuff tears, in which the muscles and tendons that wrap the shoulder become damaged, are common and can result from a sudden traumatic injury like a fall or develop gradually. 

However, sometimes, shoulder pain might not have such a clear-cut cause. One of our patients learned this for herself–we’ll call her Diana. She was dealing with persistent shoulder pain and couldn’t figure out why. Fortunately, the physical therapists and occupational therapist at Preferred Physical Therapy Associates were on the case.

And the culprit? It turned out to be Diana’s posture.

Meet Diana, Receptionist Extraordinaire

Diana had worked as a receptionist and administrative assistant for years. She enjoyed her work, but it did require her to spend long hours sitting in front of a computer as she sifted through spreadsheets and calendar appointments.

Her issues with shoulder pain began gradually. They had always been a little stiff, but the restricted range of motion had worsened in the last few months. She also noticed tightness in her chest and twinges of pain throughout her shoulders and neck.

Diana tried to ignore her symptoms at first, thinking they’d eventually go away on their own. Instead, they became more frequent, worsening enough that Diana struggled to sit at her desk long enough to get any work done. That was when she came to visit us.