How To Relieve A Stiff Pain In The Neck
Neck pain can be oh so aggravating. It can come on in a flash, get worse over time, and have the potential to drastically decrease the movement of your head. Not fun when you have to look over your shoulder to check your blind spot.
So, I’m here to give you some important information on the most common trigger points that cause neck pain. What causes them, and how you can treat them to relieve neck pain.
Levator Scapulae trigger points: Ouch, I can’t turn my head
This muscle attaches to your cervical spine (your neck) and the top of your scapula (shoulder blade). Trigger points in levator scapulae can make it quite painful to turn or tilt your head to one side.
It’s name would suggest that it elevates the scapulae, which is what it’s supposed to do. Unfortunately, for a lot of the population here in the US, this muscle has been recruited to hold our forward heads back, much like a bridle to a horse. If we didn’t have muscles doing that, our heads would continue to be pulled more forward and down by gravity.
Because levator scapulae is not meant to be the head-holder-upper, it gets overloaded and develops trigger points, which in turn cause pain.
Now, the main culprit is not levator scapulae. It is the forward head posture, exacerbated by tightness in the front of the neck (from years of poor posture). So you can press on the trigger point as much as you want, but until you release the front of your neck, and start sitting with your spine stacked, head floating up not forward, then you will continue to get neck pain.
What you can do to relieve the pain
To find some immediate pain relief if you’re experiencing this neck pain, search around with your fingers of the opposite arm and find a tender, intense spot. Apply pressure there (sometime letting go for a second) for about 2 mins or until the pain starts to dissipate. Then find another point and repeat.
You really know you’re on the right point when you feel the referral/radiating sensation that causes your neck pain. A theracane or a trigger point massage therapist, like our therapists here in salt lake, also help to relieve the immediate pain.
To fully alleviate the pain and prevent it from returning, getting a myofascial or structural massage is key. Following that up with changing your sitting and standing habits (not by forcing good posture, but by stacking your spine) will help you for a lifetime. And yes, you can still do this while sitting at a computer all day!
Sign up for our newsletter for the next installation of pain in the neck causing trigger points!
And feel free to call us if you have any questions about your neck pain. It’s possible we might be able to help you over the phone for massage and self care for neck pain in Salt Lake City – 801.906.3222.
I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog
that’s equally educative and entertaining, and let me tell you,
you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that not enough
men and women are speaking intelligently about.
I’m very happy that I stumbled across this during my search for something
concerning this.
I enjoy what you guys are up too. This sort of
clever work and coverage! Keep up the good works guys I’ve added you
guys to blogroll.