“What muscles are weak in rounded shoulders?”

Typically, the rhomboids and lower and middle trap muscles are getting weak or are shutting off when a patient experiences rounded shoulders. However, patients should also address the tightness of the pectoral muscles that are also pulling those shoulders forward as well.

Dr. Lindsey Tevlin, DC

Rhomboid muscles and lower traps. It’s important to strengthen your core in addition to strengthening the other 2 muscles.

There are two important parts to that question what are weak and what are tight. The weak muscles are rhomboids, posterior (back section) of deltoids, and lower section of trapezius. The tight muscles are pec major and minor, and probably your latissimus dorsi (aka Lat). These are the most common muscles however it is recommended to get this checked by your local chiropractor or physical therapist.

This is a postural dysfunction with imbalances in the muscles with hyperactive and weak muscles in certain areas based on the posture. Rounded shoulders is due to a few factors, one is tight pectoral muscles that originate at the sternum and insert on the outer portion of the humerus(upper arm bone). Upper cervical muscles in a group called the suboccipitals also shorten and tighten and you have increased Tension headaches. When shortened due to poor forward flexed posture And your head out in front of your neck and shoulders, over time they remain shortened and tight and they restrict your movement. Another is weakened neck flexor muscles and mid to lower trap, rhomboids which allow your scapula(shoulder blade) to protract out and come forward along with chin jetting. It's referred to as upper cross syndrome and explains that antagonist muscles are imbalanced with one being to tight and the opposite being weak. Fixing the imbalance by lengthening the shortened muscles and strengthening the weak muscles is standard care of treatment. This is a regional problem, not one muscle or one group of muscles. It's an intricate system where all parts must be addressed.

Rounded shoulder is a postural condition unless there has been trauma or disease and these should be evaluated. Posture is changing your life style. Quick can be obtained only if recent. Maintenance requires work over time. Posture is very important sitting and standing. One method is to put your back to the wall and go into military posture, stomach in, shoulders back and head touching with chin tucked. In my opinion treating the spine is about function. Everybody's spine is different and responds differently. The goal is to make the spine work well within its own structural parameters. Stretching, exercises, posture, habits and activities of daily living can make a difference. It is important to get help from a licensed professional. Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) are trained to diagnose and treat all the areas of the neuromuscular skeletal

Rounded shoulders come from tight/overtrained chest, upper traps, and suboccipital muscles, and from weak/undertrained rhomboids, lower traps, and longus coli muscles.