Body & Balance Studio
Posture scan

Uneven Shoulders

Also known as: shoulder obliquity, shoulder asymmetry.

What it is

Uneven shoulders are a left–right height difference of the shoulder line. It can stem from a dominant trapezius/levator on one side, a carried-bag habit, or a compensation further down the chain (such as uneven hips or a trunk shift).

How to spot it

From the front or back, the line across the tops of the shoulders is tilted. The scan reports the shoulder-line angle off horizontal.

Muscles involved

Muscles involved in Uneven Shoulders, front view — typically tight muscles in coral, typically weak in teal
Front (anterior) view
Muscles involved in Uneven Shoulders, back view — typically tight muscles in coral, typically weak in teal
Back (posterior) view

Coral = typically tight, teal = typically weak. Anatomical illustration from Z-Anatomy (derived from BodyParts3D), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Typically tight: upper trapezius, levator scapulae

Typically weak: lower trapezius, serratus anterior

How to correct it

  • Down-train the elevated trapezius; cue equal shoulder height.
  • Strengthen scapular depressors (lower trap).
  • Check uneven hips / trunk shift as a possible driver.
Lateral Neck Flexor Stretch (Side Tilt)stretch · neckScapular Depression (Elevated Shoulder)strengthen · shoulder
upper trapeziuslevator scapulaelower trapeziusserratus anterior

Educational wellness content — not a diagnosis. See a clinician for pain or concerns. Run a posture scan to check your own alignment.