The Shoulder Girdle and its Relationship to the Greater Whole

Written by John A. Wilson, Certified Advanced Rolfer®

Published January 19th, 2022

Take a look at an anatomical chart and consider the muscles of the back. What do you notice? There are many layers, and many of these muscles span over much of the territory of the back. Now look at some of the most far reaching muscles and you will realize, they are the most superficial, near the surface. And then what else do you notice? They are somewhat like thin sheets compared to many other muscles in the body. What else? Most of the large superficial muscles of the back attach to the shoulder or the shoulder blade. Yes, that's right, most of the larger muscles of the back are shoulder muscles. So how could we expect to address a shoulder problem without addressing these back muscles too?

We all too often overlook just how far reaching our issues might be, but simply looking at a muscle diagram can help put things into perspective. Looking at more detailed drawings, we can see that many of these already far reaching muscles feed into each other through even farther reaching sheets of connective tissue. Consider the latissimus dorsi, for instance. This muscle originates from the illium, the top of the hip, and attaches to the top of the humerus. How do you think we can address a long standing shoulder problem without addressing the entire sideline down to the hip?

Now take a look at the neck. Many of the larger superficial muscles of the neck run down to the shoulder. How can we address a shoulder problem without addressing the neck? Likewise, how can we address a neck problem without addressing the shoulder, or even the arm which links up to the shoulder, which links up to the neck? And then we must consider the physics of the situation, what are the factors like in motion? The arms need to be able to swing freely when walking, and the bones of the forearms need to be able to rotate freely around each other while the arms swing. This kinetic energy of walking should flow down the arm, and even through the wrist, hands and out the fingers or it will remained trapped in the shoulder and the neck, so even having restriction in the hands can affect the neck and shoulders.

Keep in mind that just because we may have moved from series work into more specific localized work down the road, does not mean that we do not still have a bigger view in mind. This is what makes Rolfing what it is, unique, holistic, and far reaching. This is also why we need to avoid getting stuck in doing just one approach over and over again. The answers may be very far away from the perceived problem, so we must be open to a greater view of the whole.

About The Author

John Wilson is a Certified Advanced Rolfer® with more than 20 years of experience studying the relationships between fascia, posture, movement, and chronic pain. Through thousands of client sessions, he has developed a whole-body approach to Structural Integration that emphasizes identifying the underlying compensatory patterns that contribute to discomfort rather than focusing solely on the site of pain. His writing reflects both clinical experience and an ongoing commitment to anatomy, biomechanics, and movement education.

John A. Wilson Certified Advanced Rolfer®

Credentials

• Certified Advanced Rolfer®

• Structural Integration Practitioner

• Over 20 years of clinical practice

• Specializing in posture, chronic pain, fascia, and biomechanics

• Serving Denver and Tucson

Editorial Note: Articles on this website are written by John Wilson based on his clinical experience as a Certified Advanced Rolfer®, continuing professional education, and published research. They are intended for educational purposes and should not replace individualized medical advice.