Uneven shoulders: Is one side wider than the other?

So, I was looking in the mirror the other day and realized something kind of weird—one of my shoulders is actually higher than the other. It’s not even like one is slumped down; it’s just physically sitting higher, maybe by about half an inch or so. I didn't notice it at all until yesterday, which is strange. Is there any way I can actually level things out through working out? It feels pretty odd that my left shoulder is the high one since I'm right-handed. Also, just for context, I'm 21.

Longer? Look, you really should see a physical therapist first to figure out exactly what kind of disorder we're dealing with. Once you have a diagnosis, they can give you a specific regimen tailored to your needs. I wouldn't recommend trying to DIY any exercises on your own; you run a serious risk of making the misalignment even worse...

I was just wondering if it’s even worth trying to fix this, because I know shoulder width is mostly down to bone structure... and honestly, since I'm already 21, I'm guessing my growth spurts are pretty much a thing of the past, right?

goldenotter31 said:I’m just wondering if I’m even capable of fixing this myself. I know shoulder width depends on bone length, and since I'm already 21, I don't think there's any more growing left to do for me.

Honestly, I highly doubt one of your collarbones is actually longer than the other; if it were, you would have noticed that a long time ago. What you're dealing with is likely something else entirely—something that can actually be addressed through targeted training...

If we rule out some weird issue with my posture, is it actually possible that my left shoulder has ended up stronger than my right just from playing guitar? I wouldn’t say I’m exactly a powerhouse in the gym or anything, but I have definitely spent a massive amount of time hunched over my guitar.

So, I was at the doctor's the other day, and he pointed out that one of my shoulders is actually about half an inch lower than the other. He basically told me not to sweat it, though, since nobody is perfectly symmetrical anyway. Has anyone else ever noticed something like that about themselves?

goldenotter31 said:I just noticed the other day that one shoulder sits higher than the other—not lower, just actually higher. It’s about half an inch difference. I hadn't even realized it until yesterday. Is there any way to fix this through exercise? It feels weird because my left shoulder is the high one, even though I'm right-handed. I'm 21.

👍 I know this post is ancient, but I just stumbled upon it. I have the exact same issue. Could it be caused by sleeping on one side too much?😁

The situation remains unchanged, despite whatever noise people are making about it. kaže:
👍 I realize this thread dates all the way back to 2009, but I only just stumbled upon it. It looks like I’m dealing with the exact same issue, and honestly, it’s highly probable that my habit of sleeping on one shoulder is the culprit here. 😁

Try sleeping on your other shoulder for once; maybe only after you experience that specific discomfort will you actually grasp why it’s such an impossibility.

Some guitarist colleague of mine thinks he can just flip his guitar around and play Hendrix-style to see if that somehow recalibrates which muscle groups he’s hitting on his left and right sides, as if playing upside down will magically restore some sense of physical symmetry to his technique. ☕