01/15/2026
Strong rotator cuff. Great posture. Still having shoulder pain?
You’re not alone!
Shoulder pain doesn’t always come from weak muscles or poor posture. You might be doing every exercise on instagram that promises “bulletproof shoulders” and still struggling. Even with excellent strength and mobility in the shoulder joint, pain can show up when the shoulder blade isn’t moving the way it needs to.
One common culprit? Limited upward rotation of the scapula.
The shoulder is a team sport. If the scapula isn’t rotating upward smoothly as the arm lifts, the shoulder joint has to compensate. Over time, that extra load can irritate tissues, limit efficiency, and lead to pain.
This is where a trained eye matters. A physical therapist looks beyond isolated strength and posture to assess how your shoulder blade moves, coordinates, and supports the arm through real-life and athletic motion. Small movement differences can have a big impact.
Because lasting relief doesn’t always come from doing more of the same exercises, it comes from doing the right things for your movement system.
Train your eye! Can you spot the difference between the right and left shoulder blade?