Neck, headaches & shoulder
Why do my neck, head, or shoulder keep hurting?
Your shoulder blades float on your rib cage and hang from muscles that attach to your neck and skull. When they sit too low or stop moving well, the neck, the head, the shoulder, and even the elbow pay for it — which is why treating only the spot that hurts so often doesn't last.
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The 30-second armpit test that could explain your neck pain, radiculopathy, or headaches
Why the standard neck workup misses the real driver, and a quick test with a helper that shows whether your shoulder blades are behind your pain.
Read the guide →Inside: why one-sided head pain is a clue · the armpit test · why shoulder blades end up depressed · three neck pains that were shoulder problems · fixing depressed shoulder blades
Have a helper lift your shoulders from under your armpits while you go completely limp, then move your neck again, to find out whether your shoulder blades are driving your pain.
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Should I...?If the armpit test or the shoulder blade checks rang true, 7 Days to a Better Neck walks you through the same testing and corrections at home, step by step. It's built around shoulder blade mechanics, so it's also the place to start for stubborn shoulder pain.