Have you noticed your hands becoming stiffer and less reactive when you try to move them? You need to exercise your hands like you do the rest of your body. Whether you have Parkinson’s or arthritis, if your hands become stiff, every task takes longer, and it really affects your quality of life.

The muscles of the upper back, along with the action of the shoulder blades, are very important to posture and the stabilization of the shoulders. Poor posture associated with Parkinson’s disease often creates tight chest muscles and weak back muscles, which can lead to pain in your shoulders.

Your shoulder blades should “glide and float” on your rib cage. If you have a stooped posture, your shoulder blades can’t sit or glide normally on the ribs. Your chest muscles become tight and pull the shoulders and arm forward, causing pain and complications with the rotator cuff muscles.

People with Parkinson’s often struggle with stooped posture and shoulder pain. It may seem like these are two different problems, but your shoulder pain may be just a symptom of dysfunction of the upper back and shoulder blade relationship. If this dysfunction is ignored for too long, it can result in a rotator cuff tear.

The muscles of the upper back, along with the shoulder blade action, are very important to posture and the stabilization of the shoulder. Your shoulder blades should “glide and float” on your rib cage. If you have a stooped posture, your shoulder blades can’t sit or glide normally on the ribs. Poor posture associated with Parkinson’s disease often creates tight chest muscles and weak back muscles, which affects this delicate balance.