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Massage Therapy for Pectoralis Minor PainMassage therapy is a fantastic treatment for decreasing pectoralis minor muscle spasms and pain. The pectoralis minor muscle is commonly injured with people who have poor posture or perform most of their activities with their hands in front of them. People with rounded shoulders shorten the muscle and reduce its flexibility. Eventually the muscle becomes shortened, which reduces your ability to pull your shoulder, scapulae, or arms backwards. This makes people more likely to develop direct injury to the pec minor, arm, shoulder, neck, or upper back. When the muscle spasms it can compress the major arm artery and nerves, producing burning, tingling, radiating pain, numbness, tingling, or hand weakness. People feel the symptoms increase with computer work or repeated tasks with their arms in front, such as reading, sewing, or knitting.Pectoralis Minor Muscle PainThe pectoralis minor is an often forgotten muscle that plays an important roll. It starts on the third, fourth, and fifth ribs. The three branches fuse to insert on the coroacoid process of the scapula. It is a major scapulae (shoulder blade) stabilizer. It is involved with every arm and shoulder movement. Unfortunately, when it becomes injured it shortens and restricts the scapulae movement and may contribute to shoulder or rotator cuff injuries. It can also compress the artery and nerves that run down the arm.When the pectoralis minor muscle is injured, it usually does not hurt in the chest. It usually contributes to pain and injury in the shoulder, or produces radicular hand symptoms. When it compresses the artery and nerve it produces thoracic outlet syndrome. People may think they have carpal tunnel syndrome because of the radiating hand pain and weakness with typing and arm positions. However, the pain is in a different location in the hand and can be reproduced by moving the shoulder to its abducted position. Because of its strength and position, pectoralis minor spasms pull the scapulae and shoulders down and forward. This position changes the curves of the neck and shoulders, leading to back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain with sitting and standing. Pectoralis minor muscle spasms can lead to trigger points developing in the muscle. Trigger points are areas of muscle that have been injured to the degree that it radiates pain to other areas. Mild muscle injuries hurt at the location of the injury only. Worse injuries radiate pain a couple inches. Bigger muscle injuries radiate pain to other areas of the body. Trigger points in the pectoralis minor muscle radiate from the chest, to the shoulder, and inside of the arm to the little and ring fingers In some cases people develop a severe thoracic outlet syndrome and pectoralis minor trigger points. They will have a combination of pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness radiating into the hand. It can become very debilitating and severely limit their ability to perform daily activities. Treatment of Pectoralis Minor Muscle PainMassage therapy works to decrease the pain and muscle spasms in the pectoralis minor muscle. Massage is very effective at increasing flexibility and integrity of the muscle. It also decreases neck, shoulder, chest, and hand pain. Overall, you should see a decrease frequency, duration, and intensity of symptoms within two weeks.Massage therapy works to decrease muscle spasm, tenderness, and referral pain. It brings more blood to the area and reduces edema around the muscle. By improving the flexibility and shoulder range of motion, people often report feeling their posture improve and shoulder pain decrease early in treatment. When a trigger point is present, the massage therapist may cause radiating pain down the shoulder and arm every time the knot is worked. If the pectoralis minor muscle spasm is causing thoracic outlet syndrome, treatment will progress at a slower rate. You will see the benefit but it will take longer to completely resolve. Stretching the pectoralis muscle is very helpful to enhance treatment, especially with thoracic outlet syndrome. Stretching at home will greatly speed your recovery. People who stretch the pectoralis minor muscle most often usually get better the fastest. It will also decrease your risk of future shoulder injuries. If you feel like your pectoralis muscle trigger points are contributing to either your chest, arm, shoulder, neck, or hand pain consider massage therapy as your treatment choice. Please look for a skilled and trained therapist who frequently treats people with complex and intertwined muscular problems, such as thoracic outlet syndrome and pectoralis minor trigger points. Please contact us with any questions or if you feel massage therapy
treatment will help you with your back and neck spasms and pain. |
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