25 May Is That Shoulder Blade Pain Really a Muscle Issue? Maybe Not…
If you’ve ever had a nagging ache around your shoulder blade, you probably thought, “I must have pulled a muscle.”
Maybe you stretched it, massaged it, or used heat—and it still didn’t go away. The truth is, shoulder blade pain isn’t always caused by tight muscles between your shoulders.
Sometimes, the real problem is coming from your neck—even if your neck doesn’t hurt at all.
Let me explain.
What Is “Cloward Sign”?
Back in 1959, a clever doctor named Dr. Cloward discovered that issues in the discs in your neck (your cervical spine) can actually cause pain that shows up somewhere else—specifically, around your shoulder blades and upper back. This is called referred pain.
So, even if your neck feels fine, if there’s something going on in the disc—like a small tear or inflammation—it can “send” pain to areas like:
- The top of your shoulder
- The inside or lower edge of your shoulder blade
- Even down the back of your upper arm
Pretty tricky, right?
Why This Matters
When pain shows up in one place but is actually caused by another, it can lead to misdiagnosis. You might get treated for a sore muscle when the issue is actually in your spine. That’s why it’s so important to see a physio who knows how to assess the whole picture, not just where it hurts.
At Physio Fit Studio, our approach is always to understand the full story—not just guess based on surface symptoms. That means a thorough assessment that considers muscles, joints, nerves, and the spine itself. We’re trained to spot things like Cloward Sign and rule out (or rule in!) all the possible sources of your pain.
Above are the areas that can give you pain depending on which level in your neck is unhappy.
Below is a chart that shows that certain muscles can also refer pain into areas.
Am I expecting you to understand any of the above? NO! But I just want you to know that pain often is coming from the muscle that is situated where the pain is. And if you keep having issues, stop self diagnosing with the help of “Doctor Google” because…
Experience Matters
Many of our clients come to us after trying “everything” for their shoulder or back pain—often, the missing piece is a proper diagnosis. A therapist with experience can tell the difference between a tight rhomboid and referred pain from your C6 disc.
We also use hands-on techniques like traction, gentle movement tests, and postural assessments to pinpoint what’s really going on. And if your pain is coming from your neck (even without neck symptoms), we’ll create a plan to address the root cause—not just chase the pain.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been dealing with stubborn upper back or shoulder blade pain that just won’t shift, it might be time to look deeper. Trust a physio who knows how to read the signs—and who won’t stop until they get to the bottom of your symptoms.
Because getting the diagnosis right means getting the treatment right.
Want to chat about your shoulder or neck pain? Book in today—we’ll help figure out what’s really going on.
Physio Fit Studio
Where experience meets results.
Call: (02) 6674 4142