Neck & Shoulder Pain: The Top 3 Reasons You’ve Probably Never Considered

Neck and shoulder pain has become so common that most people treat it as a normal part of modern life. But it’s not normal—and it’s almost always a sign that the body is working harder than it should.

As a massage therapist specializing in holistic care, I’ve spent years helping people unravel the true roots of their pain. And while every body is unique, most neck and shoulder tension can be traced back to three big factors—some obvious, some widely overlooked, and some rarely discussed at all.

Let’s break them down.

Reason #1: You Have a Bowling Ball on Your Shoulders

The average human head weighs around 11 pounds. That’s roughly the size of a bowling ball—and your neck and shoulders are responsible for holding it up every waking moment.

If someone asked you to hold an 11-pound dumbbell in front of you for hours, you’d fatigue quickly. Yet we expect our neck and shoulder muscles to do exactly that all day, every day, without complaint.

And to make matters more complicated, the line between “neck muscles” and “shoulder muscles” isn’t as clear-cut as most people assume. Many of the muscles that support the neck attach directly into the shoulders—and some muscles, like the trapezius, extend from the base of the skull all the way into the mid-back—which is why neck pain and shoulder tension are so closely linked.

So when your neck is overworked, your shoulders feel it—and vice versa. It’s all one interconnected system.

Reason #2: Your Spine is Too Straight (a Commonly Overlooked Cause)

One of the most important—and most neglected—contributors to neck pain is the shape of the cervical spine (aka your neck bones).

Your neck isn’t meant to be straight. It’s designed with a natural, forward-arching curve, which helps absorb shock, distribute weight efficiently, and reduce strain on the surrounding muscles.

But many people lose this curvature over time due to posture, stress, device use, injury, or simply habitual movement patterns. You’ve probably heard terms like:

• “Tech neck”

• “Military neck”

• “Straight neck syndrome”

  
  

When the curve flattens or reverses, the body has to compensate. And compensation almost always means the muscles must work harder than they’re designed to.

Those muscles that were already supporting an 11-pound head now have to support it with less biomechanical efficiency. They fatigue faster. They tighten protectively. And over time, chronic tension becomes the new normal. Often, people try to “stretch” their neck pain away without ever addressing the underlying spinal mechanics—so the tightness keeps returning.

Reason #3: Somatic Stress & Emotional Holding Patterns (the Least Discussed, but Hugely Important)

Most of us have heard someone say, “I carry my stress in my shoulders.”

What many don’t realize is that this is literally true.

Across numerous traditions—yogic philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, somatic psychology, and even modern trauma research—there’s a shared understanding: unprocessed emotions, chronic stress, and unresolved experiences often manifest physically.

The shoulders, in particular, tend to hold:

• Responsibility

• Pressure

• Expectations

• Unspoken emotional burdens

And in my clinical experience, emotional stress often shows up with surprising consistency:

• Right shoulder: Frequently correlates with work, duty, finances, career pressure, or “being the one who holds everything together.”

• Left shoulder: More commonly associated with home life, relationships, family dynamics, and personal emotional weight.

• Lower shoulder / upper rib area:Often reflects deeper emotional layers such as grief, loss, or long-standing heaviness. This can eventually creep upward toward the neck.

These patterns aren’t rigid rules, but they show up far too consistently to ignore.

When emotional tension builds, the body tends to contract, brace, or subtly lift the shoulders without us realizing it. Over time, this becomes a habit—and then a symptom.

Putting It All Together

Neck and shoulder pain rarely comes from a single source. More often, it’s a combination of:

• Structural load (that 11-pound head)

• Postural or biomechanic inefficiency (loss of cervical curve)

• Emotional or energetic holding patterns (somatic tension)

When these three overlap—which they often do—discomfort becomes chronic.

The good news?!

Neck and shoulder pain is highly treatable when we address it from a whole-person perspective. Restoring cervical mobility, releasing muscular tension, and acknowledging the emotional side of the body often leads to transformative results.

If You’re Struggling with Neck or Shoulder Pain…

You don’t have to just “live with it.”A personalized session that addresses both muscular and emotional roots can make a world of difference.

If you’d like support in understanding your body, restoring ease, or feeling more aligned, I’m here to help.

Book a session by clicking here.

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