{"id":95025,"date":"2026-10-28T17:44:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T06:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/?p=95025"},"modified":"2026-10-28T17:44:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T06:44:24","slug":"pain-between-shoulder-blades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/","title":{"rendered":"Pain Between Your Shoulder Blades: Why Desk Work Causes It and Which Massage Helps"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-136926 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/getblys.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pain-between-shoulder-blades-blys-hero.png\" alt=\"A massage therapist presses both thumbs into a client\u2019s shoulder blades during a trigger point massage, conveying a calm, hands-on wellness and relaxation session for pain between shoulder blades.\" width=\"1100\" height=\"764\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain between shoulder blades often comes from the muscles that sit there, the rhomboids and the mid-back, working overtime during long hours at a screen, and trigger point or deep tissue massage can ease those muscles. It&#8217;s the one spot you can&#8217;t reach and can&#8217;t stop thinking about. A few signs mean a doctor comes before a therapist, and they get their own section below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A local therapist booked through Blys comes to your home or your office, so you keep your lunch break for lunch, and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/services\/trigger-point-massage-therapy\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trigger point massage therapy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> goes straight to the tender spots.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #100249;color:#100249\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #100249;color:#100249\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#What_Causes_Pain_Between_the_Shoulder_Blades\" >What Causes Pain Between the Shoulder Blades?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#The_Rhomboids_and_Mid-Back_Muscles\" >The Rhomboids and Mid-Back Muscles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#How_Long_Hours_at_a_Screen_Overwork_Them\" >How Long Hours at a Screen Overwork Them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Other_Everyday_Causes_of_Upper_Back_Pain\" >Other Everyday Causes of Upper Back Pain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Desk_Habits_That_Add_to_It\" >Desk Habits That Add to It<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Red_Flags_See_a_Doctor_Before_Any_Massage\" >Red Flags: See a Doctor Before Any Massage<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Call_000_for_These_Signs\" >Call 000 for These Signs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#See_a_Doctor_First_for_These_Signs\" >See a Doctor First for These Signs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#What_to_Tell_Your_Doctor\" >What to Tell Your Doctor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#What_This_Page_Is_and_Isnt\" >What This Page Is and Isn&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Massage_for_Upper_Back_Pain_Which_Style_Fits\" >Massage for Upper Back Pain: Which Style Fits<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Trigger_Point_Massage_for_Rhomboid_Pain\" >Trigger Point Massage for Rhomboid Pain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Deep_Tissue_Massage_for_the_Mid-Back\" >Deep Tissue Massage for the Mid-Back<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Can_Massage_Help_Pain_Between_Shoulder_Blades\" >Can Massage Help Pain Between Shoulder Blades?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Moves_to_Ask_a_Physiotherapist_About\" >Moves to Ask a Physiotherapist About<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#What_a_Session_Feels_Like\" >What a Session Feels Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#How_to_Prepare_for_a_Session\" >How to Prepare for a Session<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Desk_Setup_Tips_for_the_Days_Between_Sessions\" >Desk Setup Tips for the Days Between Sessions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Working_From_Home_Without_a_Desk\" >Working From Home Without a Desk<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Arranging_a_Session_at_Home_or_the_Office_With_Blys\" >Arranging a Session at Home or the Office With Blys<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#At_the_Office\" >At the Office<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#At_Home_After_Work\" >At Home After Work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#What_to_Put_in_Your_Booking_Notes\" >What to Put in Your Booking Notes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/pain-between-shoulder-blades\/#Arrange_a_Massage_at_Work_or_Home\" >Arrange a Massage at Work or Home<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Causes_Pain_Between_the_Shoulder_Blades\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Causes Pain Between the Shoulder Blades?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desk work causes pain between the shoulder blades by keeping the muscles in that area switched on for hours, which tires them out the way holding a bag at arm&#8217;s length tires your arm.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Rhomboids_and_Mid-Back_Muscles\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Rhomboids and Mid-Back Muscles<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rhomboids are two thin muscles that run from your spine to the inner edge of each shoulder blade, and they work with the mid-back muscles to hold your shoulder blades back and in. At a desk, a screen and a keyboard pull your shoulders forward all day, and these muscles hold the line against it without a break. That&#8217;s why the ache often sits in the same spot and flares at the end of a long day, and it&#8217;s the usual picture behind rhomboid pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Long_Hours_at_a_Screen_Overwork_Them\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Long Hours at a Screen Overwork Them<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscles tire when they hold a position for hours, and they can develop trigger points, which are tight, tender spots that ache when pressed and sometimes send a dull ache into nearby areas, the focus of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/what-is-trigger-point-massage\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trigger point massage and how it works<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A desk day keeps your mid-back holding the same position for hours with almost no change, so the muscles get little rest and plenty of work. If your neck and shoulders ache too, neck pain and shoulder pain from desk work share the same roots.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Everyday_Causes_of_Upper_Back_Pain\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other Everyday Causes of Upper Back Pain<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A desk isn&#8217;t the only place the mid-back picks up extra work. Carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder, sleeping in a twisted position, long drives and a weekend of lifting or gardening can all add to upper back pain, and they often stack on top of a desk week. If your ache follows one of these, mention it to your therapist, since it helps them plan the session.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Desk_Habits_That_Add_to_It\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desk Habits That Add to It<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few common desk habits pile extra work onto the mid-back, including a head that creeps forward as the day goes on, the heart of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/upper-crossed-syndrome\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">upper crossed syndrome and desk work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the table pairs each one with a simple fix.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Habit<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What it does to your mid-back<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A simple fix<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen too low<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pulls your head and shoulders forward<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raise the screen so the top sits near eye level<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keyboard too far away<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeps your arms reaching and your shoulder blades stretched apart<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring it close enough that your elbows rest by your sides<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hours without a break<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holds the same muscles in the same position<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stand and move for a minute every so often<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mouse arm out to the side<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gives one shoulder blade a part-time job<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the mouse close to the keyboard<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phone held low<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rounds your upper back toward your chest<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lift the phone to eye level<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Red_Flags_See_a_Doctor_Before_Any_Massage\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Flags: See a Doctor Before Any Massage<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the section most massage posts skip, and it&#8217;s the one that matters most, so it comes early.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Call_000_for_These_Signs\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call 000 for These Signs<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call 000 if pain between your shoulder blades comes with chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, pain spreading to your jaw or arm, a cold sweat, nausea or feeling faint, or if the pain is sudden and severe. Don&#8217;t wait for a massage appointment and don&#8217;t book one, because these signs need emergency care.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"See_a_Doctor_First_for_These_Signs\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See a Doctor First for These Signs<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See a doctor before any massage if the pain follows a fall or injury, comes with a fever or unexplained weight loss, brings numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs, keeps getting worse, doesn&#8217;t change with movement or rest, or wakes you at night. Pain between the shoulder blades has many possible causes, and a tight muscle is only one of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Tell_Your_Doctor\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to Tell Your Doctor<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tell your doctor when the pain started, where exactly it sits, what makes it better or worse, whether it comes and goes, and any other symptoms, however unrelated they seem. A short list in your phone beats trying to remember it in the appointment, and it helps your doctor sort a tight muscle from something else.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_This_Page_Is_and_Isnt\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What This Page Is and Isn&#8217;t<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This page is general information about desk-related upper back pain and massage, and it isn&#8217;t medical advice. It doesn&#8217;t diagnose any cause of pain, and it doesn&#8217;t promise that massage will fix it. Massage suits muscle tightness once a doctor has ruled out anything else, so check with your doctor first if you have any red flag or any doubt.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Massage_for_Upper_Back_Pain_Which_Style_Fits\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massage for Upper Back Pain: Which Style Fits<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massage for pain between shoulder blades comes in three styles that fit this ache, from<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/services\/trigger-point-massage-therapy\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trigger point massage therapy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to deep tissue work, and each one does something different, so the table lines them up.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massage<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What it involves<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best for<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trigger point massage<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steady pressure held on tender spots in a muscle<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sore, specific spot you can point to<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep tissue massage<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slow, firm strokes through the deeper muscle layers<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A broad, stubborn ache across the mid-back<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trigger_Point_Massage_for_Rhomboid_Pain\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trigger Point Massage for Rhomboid Pain<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trigger point massage uses steady pressure held on the tender spots in a muscle, and it suits rhomboid pain because the ache usually sits in a spot you can point at. Your therapist finds the tender point, holds the pressure and releases, and it can feel like a deep, sharp-edged ache that eases as they hold. A session can happen at home or at your office.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deep_Tissue_Massage_for_the_Mid-Back\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep Tissue Massage for the Mid-Back<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/services\/deep-tissue-massage\/\">Deep tissue massage<\/a> uses slow, firm strokes through the deeper muscle layers, and it suits a broad, stubborn ache across the mid-back. For a desk-related ache, your therapist works firmly on the rhomboids and the muscles around the shoulder blades, with some attention to the chest and neck that pull against them. The pressure builds slowly, and your therapist checks in as they go, so you can ask for firmer or lighter at any point. If you&#8217;re not sure whether deep tissue or trigger point suits you, say so in your booking notes, and your provider can talk you through the options.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_Massage_Help_Pain_Between_Shoulder_Blades\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Massage Help Pain Between Shoulder Blades?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massage can ease tight, overworked muscles between the shoulder blades, which is often part of the picture, but it doesn&#8217;t change the desk habits that overwork them, and it only suits you once you and your doctor have ruled out any red flag. Think of massage as a way to settle the muscles, and think of the desk fixes as the way to stop them getting overworked again. No session can promise to make the pain go away for good.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Moves_to_Ask_a_Physiotherapist_About\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moves to Ask a Physiotherapist About<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massage settles the muscles, and movement helps keep them from getting overworked again, so ask a physiotherapist which moves suit your back. Common starting points include shoulder blade squeezes, gentle upper back extensions over a chair and chest stretches, and a walk around the block counts too. The right moves depend on you, so a quick chat with a physiotherapist beats a video from the internet.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_a_Session_Feels_Like\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What a Session Feels Like<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good session feels like a firm, working ache that eases as your therapist holds or moves, and it should never feel sharp, sudden or frightening. Tell your therapist where it hurts and how firm you like it, and speak up if the pressure is too much, since the aim is a deep ache that lets you breathe and not a test of how much you can take.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Prepare_for_a_Session\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Prepare for a Session<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note where the ache sits, jot down how long you sit each day and have water nearby. Ask your therapist what to wear for your style, and clear a spot for the table, which needs about 6.5 x 6.5 feet, while your therapist brings fresh linen and towels. A short note about what makes the pain better or worse helps them plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Desk_Setup_Tips_for_the_Days_Between_Sessions\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desk Setup Tips for the Days Between Sessions<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small changes at your desk do more than any one hour on a table, and none of them need a new chair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few changes add up quickly. Raise your screen so the top sits near eye level, bring your keyboard and mouse close, and keep your elbows by your sides so your shoulder blades aren&#8217;t stretched apart. Take a standing break every so often, even for a minute, and if you work from home, take your laptop off the couch. A chair with support for your lower back helps too, since a slumped lower back drags the mid-back with it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best desk setup is the one that lets you leave the desk now and then, and a short<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/services\/chair-massage\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chair massage session<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> between meetings is one way to make that happen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Working_From_Home_Without_a_Desk\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working From Home Without a Desk<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A kitchen table, a laptop on a pillow and a couch that swallows you are a mid-back&#8217;s worst enemies, and most home setups need only three changes. Put the laptop on a stand or a pile of books, add a separate keyboard and mouse and use a chair with a firm back, then sit near a window so you remember to move. The couch is for the evening, and the desk, however makeshift, is for the day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Arranging_a_Session_at_Home_or_the_Office_With_Blys\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arranging a Session at Home or the Office With Blys<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your lunch break exists for lunch, not for a round trip across town, so a therapist who comes to you keeps it intact.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_the_Office\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the Office<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 15-minute chair massage at the office uses a quarter of a lunch hour, while a clinic with 15 minutes of travel each way uses half of it before you&#8217;ve sat down. Chair massage sessions take as little as 10 to 20 minutes, your therapist brings the chair and handles the setup and pack-down, and each chair needs about 3 x 5 feet of space. For a team,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/services\/corporate-massage\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">corporate massage at your workplace<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> brings a therapist to the office, and nobody leaves the building to get a turn.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_Home_After_Work\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Home After Work<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bookings run from 6 am to midnight, seven days a week, so an after-work session at home fits around a late finish. A 60-minute session at a clinic with 30 minutes of travel each way is a two-hour commitment after a long day. A 60-minute session at home is 60 minutes, and you stay on your own sofa afterward, which is the argument in<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/getblys.com\/us\/blog\/mobile-massage-vs-spa-whats-different\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mobile massage vs spa<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Put_in_Your_Booking_Notes\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to Put in Your Booking Notes<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put where the pain sits, how many hours a day you spend at a desk and the style you&#8217;d like in your booking notes, whether trigger point or deep tissue. Add anything your doctor has told you, so your therapist arrives knowing what to focus on and what to avoid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best massage fits into a Tuesday without anyone noticing you were gone, and a session at home or at work is the easiest way to get there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.getblys.com\/new-booking\/?utm_source=website-blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=pain-between-shoulder-blades\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Your Lunch Break: Arrange Trigger Point Massage at Work or Home \u2192<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;full_width_background&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; bg_color=&#8221;#faf1eb&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; top_padding=&#8221;3%&#8221; bottom_padding=&#8221;3%&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; shape_type=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Arrange_a_Massage_at_Work_or_Home\"><\/span>Arrange a Massage at Work or Home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=&#8221;jumbo&#8221; open_new_tab=&#8221;true&#8221; button_style=&#8221;regular&#8221; button_color_2=&#8221;Accent-Color&#8221; icon_family=&#8221;none&#8221; text=&#8221;Book Now&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/app.getblys.com\/new-booking\/?utm_source=website-blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=pain-between-shoulder-blades&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text] Pain between shoulder blades often comes from the muscles&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1920,"featured_media":95026,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Pain Between Shoulder Blades: Causes and Massage | Blys","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Pain between shoulder blades after a desk day? See the causes, the red flags that need a doctor first and which massage fits. Plan a session.","footnotes":""},"categories":[443,205],"tags":[691],"reviewer":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-95025","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blys-for-clients","8":"category-guides","9":"tag-pain-between-shoulder-blades"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pain Between Shoulder Blades: Causes and Massage | Blys<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pain between shoulder blades after a desk day? See the causes, the red flags that need a doctor first and which massage fits. 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