In medical parlance it's called winged scapula. For the layman, it is the condition where the shoulder bladebone sticks out unnaturally. Mum alerted me to it a few months back when she hung her arm across my shoulder and noticed that my right shoulder blade protruded more than my left one. I didn't pay much attention to this until recently, when I had more time to... examine my body. When I stand with my right side perpendicular to the mirror, the hump of the right shoulder blade is visible, but less so when I stand with my left side perpendicular to the mirror. It becomes more obvious when I use a face mirror to see the reflection of my back: the right shoulder blade is definitely more prominent than the left one.
I googled for information. The underlying cause of scapula winging is usually muscle weakness and/or imbalance. Some knowledge of anatomy will be useful here. Normally, the scapula is held in the correct position by two opposing muscle groups: the anterior deltoid and pectoral muscles in the front and the serratus anterior muscles and trapezius in the back.
When there is a weakness in the back muscles (serratus anterior & trapezius muscles) and/or overdevelopment of the front muscles (anterior deltoid & pectoral muscles), scapula winging may result. So apparently my front and back muscles are not developed equally. Moreover, those who spend long hours at the computer/sedentary work and do not participate in activities that engage fully the shoulder muscles are at higher risk of developing wings. Hmmm... I think I belong to this group. I'm wondering too whether the wings developed as a result of my scoliosis, or the other way round.
Fortunately, winging can be corrected by exercises that work the back muscles. Now I just need to read up more on the exercises and have the discipline to do them everyday. I don't know how long it will take to go away, or whether it will even go away (hopefully it does!). I just don't want it to deteriorate any further. Imagine a bone protruding out over your t-shirt. Eww. Why must I have so many physical problems?
don't fret too much. time to whip you into shape. once your back frm UK. weights, swimming and a medicine ball should get you on track.
ReplyDeletep.s. i like your new blog name. felix fletus (: very catchy and whats more its latin.
ReplyDeletep.p.s i'm memorising the lords prayer in latin.
p.p.p.s thanks much for mailing the jacket over ! your birthday is in a months time. what would you like this time? its your big two one!
Thanks! Remember the Felix Felicis from Harry Potter? Its a lucky potion drink. I wanted its literal translation (laughtears) initially but it was taken already, both in blogspot and wordpress. U received the uniqlo jacket yet?
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