Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk about the causes of stiff shoulders. Stiff shoulders, everyone must have experienced it at least once.
In the Showa era (1926-1989), stiff shoulders were caused by hard labor at work. In the 2025 era, we are living in a more convenient world, and stiff shoulders are caused by desk work, overuse of smartphones, lack of exercise, and other factors.
If stiffness in the shoulders is severe, it can lead to headaches, eye fatigue, and even systemic problems, so it is important to take action as soon as possible.
First, let’s talk about one of the major causes of stiff shoulders: the same posture for long periods of time! Think back, when you are working at your desk, do you tend to lean forward to face the computer?
If this posture continues, the muscles in your shoulders and neck tense up to maintain the posture, and blood circulation is compromised.
Prolonged periods of time can result in stiff shoulders as a result.
Now that more and more people are working remotely, stiff shoulders tend to become even worse if the environment at home is not conducive.
That is why it is important to have a desk or chair at the proper height and to stretch frequently!
Secondly, excessive use of smartphones can also cause stiff shoulders! In this day and age, it is difficult to live a life without a smartphone… If you use it for long periods of time, your neck will stick out in front of you, so to speak, creating a “smartphone neck. This posture causes the shoulder muscles to work too hard to keep the neck from collapsing, resulting in fatigue, blurred vision when looking at small text, and a parade of other negative effects.
Especially if you spend a long time looking at your phone before going to bed, your shoulder and neck muscles cannot relax while you sleep, and you are often left with stiff shoulders the next morning. It is important to review how you use your phone and take appropriate breaks.
Lack of exercise is another major cause of stiff shoulders. If muscles are not moved, blood flow is reduced and muscles become stiff. In particular, the muscles around the shoulders need to be consciously included in exercise because there are few opportunities to move them. Simply incorporating walking, light stretching, and shoulder rotation exercises into your daily life can help prevent stiff shoulders. Even in our busy daily lives, it is important to find a little time to move our bodies.
Stress also affects stiff shoulders. When stress from work or relationships builds up, we may unconsciously tense our shoulders. If this condition persists, the muscles in the shoulders and neck become tense, resulting in stiff shoulders. When you feel stressed, take time to relax by taking deep breaths. Relaxation can relieve muscle tension and relieve stiff shoulders.
Finally, poor posture is another cause of stiff shoulders. Poor everyday posture puts strain on the shoulders and neck. A hunched back or rounded posture is typical of postures that cause stiff shoulders. Being aware of correct posture will help prevent stiff shoulders. Straightening the back and pulling the shoulders back will reduce the burden on the shoulders and neck.
How was your experience? There are many causes of stiff shoulders, but many of them can be gradually improved in our daily lives. Prevent stiff shoulders by correcting your posture, getting moderate exercise, reviewing how you use your smartphone, and avoiding stress. For those of you who suffer from stiff shoulders, please try to be a little more aware of this starting today.
See you next time!