About me
I’m in my late thirties and work full-time in a mostly desk-based role, spending long hours at a computer, often from home. I’m fairly active day to day, but like a lot of people who work remotely, I spend more time sitting than I’d like.

The problem before treatment
For around six months I’d been dealing with an increasingly uncomfortable tingling sensation under my upper left shoulder blade. It would flare up after I’d been sitting for long periods, especially on busy work days when I wasn’t taking proper breaks. At first it was just annoying, but over time it started creeping into my everyday life, distracting me during work, making it harder to relax in the evenings, and generally leaving me feeling tense and frustrated. Because it wasn't getting better, I was concerned it might turn into a bigger issue.

What made me seek help
Eventually the discomfort started affecting my ability to work comfortably for long stretches, which is obviously a problem when you’re remote and constantly at your laptop. I didn’t want this to become a permanent issue, so I decided to get it looked at properly instead of just putting up with it, so I asked my employer to refer me privately for physio through Axa.

My treatment and rehabilitation journey
I had six sessions with Tim at the Shirley Back in Shape studio. He assessed my posture and movement, and it was clear that my home workstation setup wasn’t helping. He carried out some treatment around the upper back and shoulder blade area, which helped ease off the tightness. He also gave me a set of simple exercises to help strengthen the muscles around my shoulder and improve my posture. The sessions were easy to book and everything ran smoothly.

The results and progress
I noticed gradual improvements over the course of the sessions. The tingling reduced, and I could sit and work for longer without the creeping sensation under my shoulder blade. I also felt more aware of my posture and more confident that I could manage flare-ups before they became a problem. The exercises were simple enough that I could fit them into my normal routine, which definitely helped with consistency.

Where I am now
The issue is mostly under control. It still occasionally creeps back if I’ve had a long or stressful week, but doing the exercises again usually settles it quickly. Day to day, it’s no longer something that significantly affects me or gets in the way.

My message to others
If you’re dealing with persistent upper back or shoulder discomfort, especially from remote working, don’t ignore it, getting proper treatment made a big difference, and I’d happily recommend the Back in Shape team.

Kind regards
Kym