I know you're going to think I made this up, but it is 100% true.
Not more than a week ago, a client of mine expressed that he was having pain in his right shoulder and neck area, and couldn't figure out why.
So we reviewed the new movements he was doing in his program -- actually had him go through a few of them. No, those didn't seem to be creating any discomfort.
We talked about his work -- the amount of hours sitting at his desk have actually gotten less over the past the few months.
So we explored what has changed at home -- outside of the obvious -- he recently had a child. --BINGO!-- Originally, he didn't notice it, but recently he's been picking his newborn up more, carrying him, and holding him for extended periods. So far that has really been the only change that he can think of in his daily and weekly routine.
This is not the first time I've heard this. Trainers, clients and friends have all commented at one time or another about one shoulder being more sore than the other a few weeks or months after having a child.
And 9 times out of 10, you know what else?
When they are consistent with their shoulder stretches and exercises the shoulder pain goes away -- mysteriously.
I shared this client's experience because I have worked with literally hundreds of people, that start using one shoulder more than the other, each for different reasons, and end up with the same, "I don't know what's going on, but this shoulder has really started bother me", experience.
Shoulder pain can come from the most common activities that we do everyday and don't think about it for a second. Whether it's a wonderful new addition to the family, the posture you sit/lay in while watching TV or reading the paper, a laptop, sleeping on your shoulders, or too many pressing movements at the gym. Shoulder pain is often times just an issue of alignment.
Practice the stretches I've shared with you along with the shoulder movements from this month and you'll be out of shoulder pain fast!
Don't just take my word for it -- Try them.