If a patient presents with a right thoracolumbar C-curve, how will their shoulder position likely appear?

In the case of a right thoracolumbar C-curve, the lateral curve of the spine has a convexity toward the right side, which typically leads to a series of compensatory postural adjustments in the shoulder girdle. The right side of the spine being curved outward can cause the right shoulder to elevate in relationship to the left shoulder as the body compensates for the curve to maintain balance and alignment.

This postural distortion occurs because the muscles on the side of the spine that are under more tension (in this situation, the muscles on the convex side, or the right side) are more active. This increased muscle activity can pull the right shoulder upward and make it higher than the left shoulder. Therefore, when analyzing the patient's shoulder position, a right thoracolumbar C-curve will likely present with the right shoulder appearing higher as part of the body's compensatory mechanism to stabilize itself in response to the curvature of the spine.