What Is The Right Brachial Chain Pattern
The Upper Body Compensation That Explains Shoulder Drop, Neck Tension, And Pressing Problems
If the Left AIC pattern is the foundation of human asymmetry, the Right Brachial Chain (Right BC) pattern is its upper body counterpart. If you have one, which most people do, it explains why your right shoulder is always lower, your left neck is always tight, and overhead pressing feels impossible.
What Is The Right Brachial Chain
The Right BC pattern describes the predictable compensation that occurs in the upper body in response to the Left AIC pattern below. When the pelvis rotates left, the trunk compensates by rotating right. This trunk rotation shifts the ribcage so the right side compresses and the left side opens. The right shoulder blade loses its anchor on the ribcage and drifts forward and down. The pattern was first described in the Postural Restoration Institute framework by Ron Hruska.
How The Left AIC Drives The Right BC
The chain reaction is predictable. The right pec major and pec minor shorten because the shoulder has moved forward. The right posterior rotator cuff lengthens and weakens. The right lat becomes dominant. The right upper trap and SCM become hypertonic trying to stabilize a shoulder complex that has lost its foundation. On the left, the neck compensates with side bending and rotation, creating chronic left neck tightness.
Signs You Have A Right BC Pattern
Your right shoulder sits lower than your left. Your left upper trap or left neck is chronically tight. Overhead pressing feels harder on one side. Your bench press feels less stable on the right. You cannot retract your right shoulder blade as firmly. These are all indicators of the Right BC compensation responding to pelvic rotation below.
How The Right BC Affects Pressing And Pulling
Bench pressing with a Right BC means your right anterior deltoid compensates for a pec that is not in the right position. Overhead pressing means your right shoulder fights through internal rotation to get overhead. Pulling movements mean your right lat is overactive and your left lat is underactive. The asymmetry is consistent and does not respond to unilateral corrective work because it is driven from below.
How To Correct The Right BC Pattern
The fix starts at the pelvis, not the shoulders. Restore pelvic position with Left AIC correctives, then address the ribcage with breathing and rib position exercises, and finally restore shoulder blade position with serratus anterior and lower trap activation. This sequence matters because fixing the shoulder without fixing the ribcage is temporary. The chain must be addressed from the bottom up. MOVECHECK tests for the Right BC in the Shoulder Complex stage and addresses it through all seven assessment stages.
See This In Your Own Body
Every concept in this article is tested in the MOVECHECK assessment. Find out which patterns apply to you.
Take The Free Assessment →