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Massage Therapy for Levator Scapulae PainMassage therapy is a fantastic treatment to decrease muscle spasms and pain. The Levator Scapulae muscle is commonly injured with people who have poor posture. Think of people who sit at a computer with their head leaning forward and shoulders rounded at the computer screen. This position overworks the levator scapulae muscle and leads to spasms and pain. Chronic injury to this muscle leads to neck pain, stiffness, dull, ache, twinges, burning, or headaches. The muscle pain can get worse at the end of the day, especially when working on the computer. This is a common muscle spasm with tension and migraine headaches.Levator Muscle PainThe levator scapulae begins at the superior angle of the scapulae, or on the top and inside of the shoulder blade. The muscle then runs toward the head at attaches to the side of the neck bones (vertebrae) near the skull. The levator scapulae muscle’s major function is to hold the head up and raises the shoulder blade. It is very important in scapular stabilization during arm movements and motions.Sitting or standing with poor posture overworks the muscle and leads to injury. The pain originally begins as stiffness and mild soreness in the neck. An increased dull ache or burning may develop as the muscle becomes more injured. Eventually a deep throbbing ache across the shoulder, down the inside of the shoulder blade, or toward the head develops. The pain is relieved by resting, icing, or stretching. Over the counter NSAIDs often help decrease the muscle pain. Levator muscle pain can be associated with tension headaches or trapezius pain. The same postures and activities that overwork the trapezius also injure the levator muscle. This is an area we always look to when people complain activities that aggravate their pain include computer work, driving, or carrying children. People often say they rub their own neck for relief or beg friends to do it. Sometimes pressing on the sore spot will send pain down the shoulder blade or toward the head. The spot they found was the levator scapulae trigger point. Trigger points in the levator muscle are often associated with tension and migraine headaches. People can point exactly to the trigger point and say, "it always hurts here, and feels better when people rub right here." Levator scapulae trigger points contribute to headaches when a person spends their time at a computer or other head down activities. The muscle begins to get sore and helps trigger the headaches. If icing between the shoulder blades or on top of the scapulae help decrease headache intensity, then the trigger points are contributing to their development. Treatment of Levator Scapulae Muscle PainMassage therapy works to decrease the levator muscle spasms and pain. If the levator scapulae muscle spasms are contributing to headaches, treatment works to decrease headache intensity, frequency, and duration.Massage therapy works to decrease muscle spasm, tenderness, and referral pain. It brings more blood to the area and reduces edema around the muscle. It helps to increase muscle flexibility and range of motion. People often reports less pain holding their head up and feel their shoulders drop down. When the massage therapist works the muscle, the shoulder and neck pain might be reproduced every time the knot is worked. It is the levator scapulae muscle trigger point that is causing the neck, shoulder, and back pain. With treatment the neck, shoulder, back and muscle pain will decrease in intensity and frequency. Many people feel better neck range of motion and have less neck pain immediately after the treatment. People will feel their headaches developing less often or starting later in the day. The headaches will begin to go away with a little rest and ice. People will usually have less bouts of neck pain during the year. Stretching the trapezius and scapulae muscle is very helpful to enhance treatment. Stretching at home speeds your recovery and decreases the neck pain and muscle spasms. It improves flexibility and reduces that likelihood of developing a headache. If you feel like your levator muscle trigger points are contributing to your neck pain, back, scapulae, shoulder, or headaches consider massage therapy for your treatment. Please look for a skilled and trained therapist who frequently works on people with headaches, neck pain, back pain, and levator scapulae muscle 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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