Tight Shoulders from Stress — or Something Deeper?
Is It Just Stress? Or Something Deeper Behind Neck and Shoulder Pain?
We often assume a stiff neck or tight shoulders are just the price we pay for busy, stressful lives.
Sometimes that’s true … and sometimes, there’s more to the story.
Meet Lori: Stressed Shoulders, Busy Life, and a Hidden Clue
Lori is a well-respected local professional, helping small business owners navigate constant changes in employment law. Between the demands of her work and long hours at the computer, tight shoulders and neck stiffness seemed like normal job hazards.
Knowing Lori from our business networking circles, I invited her in to see if a Bridging® session might help with the neck and shoulder stress. Was there more going on than work stress alone. It turns out, there was.
Spoiler alert: Lori’s C-section surgery — more than 25 years ago — was still affecting her body today.
Quick Review: How C-Sections Disrupt Muscle Coordination
If you’ve been following along, two recent newsletters shared how C-sections can quietly impact posture, balance, and movement — sometimes decades later. Here’s a quick recap:
🔹 Ellie’s Story: Tight hips after a C-section pulled her posture forward, straining her neck and contributing to migraines. Read more here.
🔹 Theresa’s Story: Her shoulder was pulled out of alignment from asymmetrical scar tension after a C-section. Read more here.
Reminder: During a C-section surgery, seven layers of tissue (muscles, fascia, and even the bladder) are moved or cut. While the surface incision heals, the deeper muscles often don’t reconnect or coordinate naturally—unless given targeted support, such as Bridging.
Common Long-Term Issues Linked to C-Sections
At the Bridging® Institute, we meet people when they are frustrated by the following pains and stiffness. The culprit almost always goes back to the C-section when there is one in their past. Included are:
- Hip and knee pain
- Low back pain
- Neck and shoulder stiffness
- General tightness and reduced mobility
Sound familiar?
Many people chalk these symptoms up to “getting older” — when they’re actually long-lost effects of surgery.
For Lori, it wasn’t about feeling older. She chalked it up to her daily stress and time at the computer.
Why You Might Not Realize the Surgery Left a Problem
New moms are exhausted, stressed, and sleep-deprived. After months of physical changes during pregnancy, it’s hard to even remember what “normal” feels like.
As years pass, the daily demands of parenting change, and getting older gets blamed for lingering tightness or pain. But often, the real root is unresolved muscle tension from a C-section — not aging.
How We Found Lori’s C-Section Was Still Affecting Her
During Lori’s Bridging session, we supported the abdominal and hip muscles disrupted by her C-section. Here’s what happened:
✅ Her hip tension relaxed.
✅ Her lower back eased up.
✅ Her shoulders and neck finally released.
What Lori thought was just computer stress turned out to be years of hidden tension that Bridging was able to unwind — gently and quickly. Have a look!
A Meaningful Mother’s Day Gift
The Gift of Pain-Free and Easy Movement
If you — or someone you love — had a C-section and still struggles with stiffness, pain, or mobility, a Bridging session could be the perfect gift.
🌸 Gift certificates are available!
🌸 Give the gift of ease, comfort, and movement this Mother’s Day.
🌸 Changes are often noticeable after just one session — and even more complete with two.