Such A Pain In The Neck

It is quite obvious to see when someone presents to the clinic with neck pain, with a rigid stance and the look of struggle, something is not quite right.
Here are some of the most common phrases I hear regarding neck pain.

• I woke up this morning and I can’t move my neck.
• I was at the gym doing pull ups and I felt a pinch in the neck, its really painful, I cant even turn my head to the same side.
• I think I’ve “pinched a nerve” in my neck, it hurts so much. It even hurts when I breathe.
• My neck is killing me and I can feel it along the shoulder blade too.

Now there are a few possible causes for this presentation of symptoms including the muscles, nerves, joints and discs in the neck. However, most commonly the Levator Scapulae muscle aka, “The stiff neck” muscle is the usual suspect.
Although the Levator Scapulae is involved in movements of the neck and shoulder blade, it can become over worked and overloaded. I must say, it doesn’t have the best reputation when it gets angry.
Pain arising from this muscle will feel like a sharp pinch at the angle of the neck and the top of the shoulder with pain spreading down along the spine and the border of your shoulder blade. In addition to the pain pattern, it also significantly restricts the range of motion of the neck mainly turning to the same side and very limited movement to the opposite side and  sometimes shortness of breath due to pain.
The Levator scapulae muscle can be overloaded and is likely to develop trigger points while sitting at a desk for long periods or training in the gym. Some factors include:

• Using 2 or more screens at work
• Sitting at a desk for long periods of time
• Carrying a heavy bag over the shoulder
• Poor neck posture / muscle imbalances around the neck
• Sleeping in an unsupported neck position
• The neck exposed to a cold draft
• Poor muscle strength around the shoulder blade
• Weights training
  • Overhead press
  • Push ups / bench press
  • Pull ups

At Myomentum, we use a range of manual therapy techniques that help reduce these symptoms significantly. We then provide a long term management plan to prevent these symptoms in the future.

We look forward to helping you.
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