Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr Biggs,

My name is Simon, I am 18 years old and live in England. I have noticed many changes in my body from between 15-18, some of which are perfectly normal, but some others I am concerned about and would like to reverse, if possible. My biggest issue is with my back and shoulders, and I can't seem to remedy it.

My shoulders used to be in proportion with the rest of my body, but for some reason they started getting very wide/broad over about a year I am now concerned by my appearance/posture. It looks awkward and doesn't feel particularly comfortable, and I am always trying to straighten my back and pull my shoulders in so that I look like others my age. I have started to stoop quite noticeably since the change.
I was hoping if you could tell me of any medical procedures to narrow them down or otherwise return them to how they were previously? I'm not entirely sure if I'm asking the right expert or if this is even the right category, but I can't seem to get any answers no matter where I try. If you can't answer my question then perhaps you could give me advice about where to take my concerns.

Regards,
       Simon Elliot

ANSWER: Dear Simon,

Men, as they grow, become more broad through the shoulders. This is NORMAL.  Please take a look at your father, your grandparents, etc.  Do they have broad shoulders?  Yours might be accentuated in appearance by your slim waist line....

Us old men would love to have your youthful and athletic physic.

There are some conditions that might cause you to have abnormal structural appearances, such as scoliosis, hemivertibra, ankylosing spondylitis, hyperkyphosis, etc.  The only way to know if you have any of these is to consult with your medical orthopedic or chiropractic doctor.  They can help you to know if your physical changes are normal or if they are the result of an underlying structural problem.  Some individuals also have growth hormone issues that can cause abnormal structural changes.

I have two sons. As they have grown tall, and then gradually developed into men, I noticed a significant widening of their shoulders.

I bet that you are perfectly normal, but if you are worried, go to see your medical doctor.

Keith Biggs, DC

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your links, sir.

I understand that a broadening of the back/shoulders is a part of growing up for boys, but my head looks like its on the wrong body quite frankly, and I am very concerned about my disproportionate frame. No one I speak to in my family takes me seriously, but the problem is very obvious to me. I thin wrists and long, slender arms (not muscular at all) hanging off these enourmous shoulders arched back, and I absolutely hate it. Looking at pictures from just a few years ago when I was well proportioned, I can't figure out why it went so wrong. I refer to what has happened as "over-development" of my upper abdomen, in relation to my head, neck, thighs and legs. This is a problem that has developed in recent years. My shoulders are now about three times as wide as they were when I was a 15 year old, but my head and neck have remained the same. It looks very peculiar to me, so much so that I often wear a coat to cover my frame, even on hot days.

It has started to make me considerably depressed, and I'm at a total loss. Both of my parents are shorter than I am now, and I'm only 5 foot 9 inches tall. What do you think is going wrong with my body?

Regards,
       Simon Elliot

ANSWER: Simon,

I have no idea what is going wrong with your body, if anything.  People come in many shapes and sizes... plus, I have never seen you before.  

As I said in my first answer, if you feel that there is significant distortion in your structure, you need to see a doctor about it.  They can do an examination and some lab work to see if everything is OK.

Good Luck Simon,

Dr. Biggs

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm sorry if I was rambling on too much, sir. I will do as you suggest.
I think though, that perhaps I should mention a phase that I went through between 12-14 years old, which I and my mother always found very odd. I used to have a pain, like a cramp, around my shoulders and the base of my neck. It used to get so bad that the only way I could stop the pain was by smacking/punching the area where it hurt, writhing and jerking my head until the pain went away. We always presumed this was some kind of growing pain, but we never consulted doctors about it. Could it be that this unchecked problem had to do with my shoulder development and was an early sign that something was wrong?

To this day I am still very sensitive around my shoulder area, especially on my left side, which I think is slightly more protruding than my right shoulder. I cannot even have a massage without feeling sqeamish that it will cause the cramp to return. Have you ever heard of symptoms like these before?

Your help and patience much appreciated,
         Simon Elliot

Answer
Dear Simon,

Your history doesn't bring anything to mind. Like I said before, Simon, I haven't done an examination on you. Pain in the mid back is very common and could be anything, and whether or not you have a condition is still in question.  Everything still hinges on whether or not you are able to get a doctor to take a look at you to give you an opinion.  I wish that I was good enough to diagnose conditions of people without ever meeting them, seeing them, testing them, taking x-rays, MRI's, testing muscle strength, reflexes, and lab work... but so far, I am limited to my 5 senses, and in your case, I can't even rely on them!  GO GET AN EXAM with a medical doctor. Get your questions answered once and for all.  I can't give you an answer that is going to satisfy you, because anything that I say is going to be pure speculation.

Good Luck

Keith Biggs, DC