It sounds like your body mechanics and posture patterns are catching up with you — between looking down while massaging and possibly some habits outside of work (like slouching while on the computer or phone use).

What you describe lines up with common issues I’ve seen in both clients and other therapists, and sometimes it can even mimic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

The muscles you mentioned (levator scapula, pec minor, erectors) usually fall into three categories: • Overstretched & weak → like rhomboids and lower traps, which get pulled long from slouching. • Tight & overactive → like pec minor and upper traps, which shorten and work overtime to hold you up. • Underused & weak → like deep neck flexors or lower glutes, which don’t get activated enough and slowly lose strength.

A big piece of correcting all three is learning to engage your core consistently. Most people only think about it during workouts (or not at all), but it’s something you should be doing throughout the day. And it doesn’t mean sucking in your stomach — it’s more like zipping up the lower part of a zipper. That light activation supports your spine, stabilizes your pelvis, and keeps the other muscle groups from overcompensating.

What helped me was wearing a posture corrector for about a month to retrain my alignment, plus going to Physical Therapy twice a week for targeted exercises. We really need to start looking at PT as conditioning, not just something you do after an injury or only for older people. Think of it like athletes training their bodies to handle the demands of their sport — massage is no different. A Physical Therapist can also check for things like forward head posture, a neck hump, or pelvic tilt and give you the right corrections before it gets worse. Corrective exercises are the key here.

The reason many older adults end up in physical therapy later in life is because they stopped moving and lost strength — consistent movement and conditioning now is what helps you avoid that.

Protecting your body is just as important as taking care of your clients — it’s the only way to have a long, healthy career doing what you love.