Upper Back General Approach

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, we apply knowledge of anatomy and potential causes of neck, shoulder and upper back issues to support effective teaching.

Objective

Apply knowledge of anatomy, causes of neck, shoulder and upper back issues, and cautions to support effective teaching.

Description

Explain a number of cautions associated with neck, shoulder and upper back issues and note which symptoms may be a sign of potentially serious issues. Describe why movement in the upper back is naturally limited and describe the issue of compensation as it relates to correcting excessive curvature in the thoracic spine. Explain why shoulder strengthening is important and describe a typical weakness of traditional yoga asana as it relates to shoulder strengthening. Provide some general approaches to consider for upper back, shoulder and neck care.