The shoulder-blade lifter

What it does

The levator scapulae runs from the top four neck vertebrae down to the upper corner of the shoulder blade. It lifts the shoulder blade, as in a shrug, and tilts the neck to the side when the shoulder is fixed.

Why it matters

Carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder or cradling a phone against your ear strains this muscle, giving the classic stiff neck where turning your head hurts.

Nearby

• The shoulder blade
• The traps
• The neck vertebrae
• The rhomboids

Read more

• Levator scapulae — Wikipedia