Pain between the shoulder blades is often blamed on tight muscles, poor posture, or a stubborn "knot" that just won't go away. But in many cases, that pain isn't coming from the shoulder blade region at all.

In this episode of Rehab Science, Dr. Tom Walters explains how irritation of the cervical spine and lower cervical nerve roots can refer pain into the interscapular region. You'll learn why local treatments often provide only temporary relief, how neural anatomy explains these referral patterns, and how rehabilitation interventions can address the true driver of symptoms.

This episode is especially relevant for anyone who spends long hours at a computer, experiences upper back or shoulder blade pain that changes with neck movement, or wants a clearer understanding of how referred pain works.

Here is a YouTube video with a few exercises that can help with this type of pain.

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If you found this episode helpful, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who deals with ongoing neck or shoulder blade pain.