Whether we sit at a desk all day,  we work on our feet, we run around with our toddler, or our job is quite active, we all carry tension and stress in our shoulders and neck. One of the symptoms 

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Tight Torso = Slouching Shoulders

When we feel “tight in our shoulders,” it often translates to a tight trapezius muscle. It runs from the occipital bone to the lower thoracic vertebrae, and laterally to the spine of the shoulder blade. It is responsible for moving the shoulder blade and supports the arm.

And when we tell the massage therapist that we’re tight in the upper back, that usually translates to the space between the shoulder blades known as the rhomboids.

A lot of this tension stems from slouching or folding our shoulders forward. This unconscious misalignment comes not only from the daily grind like working at a desk or studying for finals, but also from tightness in the front body.

The biggest culprit for causing this tightness in the chest is the pectoralis minor—it’s a small muscle but a mighty one. By encouraging flexibility in this muscle, we can prevent the constant forward pull of the shoulders.

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