Healthy Steps Inc.

We traced the scalene muscles in orange on Christina's neck so we could tell you about them. If you are working on correcting your posture or are having thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms - then you need to read this!

When tight, the scalenes will pull the neck and head forward, and keep it there, leading to "Head Forward Posture". It makes it hard to bring your head and neck back into correct posture when these muscles are tight.

Combining the tightness with bad neck posture can then lead to entrapping the nerves that travel through this area. This happens because the scalenes attach on the side of the vertebrae in the neck, run under the collar bone and then attach to ribs 1 and 2. You can see in the picture how the orange lines (the scalenes) run under the collar bone).

Nerves and lymph vessels run between the ribs and collar bone (clavicle). When the scalenes are tight, they pull up on the ribs squeezing nerves and vessels between the first rib and collar bone. Yikes!

This can create carpel tunnel symptoms and if it gets bad enough can create thoracic outlet syndrome, and unexplained swelling in the arms and hands!

Read the full story and learn self care tips for your tight scalenes here: https://yourhealthystepstools.com/this-muscle-group-impacts-the-posture-of-our-neck/?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

“It was found in the present study that a 25-minute massage is capable of inducing psychological relaxation, in terms of reducing anxiety,” said the study’s authors. “Massage therapy also modulates immune function, induces hemodilution and decreases serum cholesterol. These findings suggest the possible usefulness of massage therapy as a stress management technique and for health promotion in modern society.”

https://www.massagemag.com/research-exclusive-massage-boosts-mood-immune-function-and-relaxation-3171/?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

Previously called muscle contraction headache, a Tension Headaches is the most common type of headache. Its name indicates the role of stress and mental or emotional conflict in triggering the pain and contracting muscles in the neck, face, scalp, and jaw. Tension-type headaches may also be caused by jaw clenching, intense work, missed meals, depression, anxiety, or too little sleep. Sleep apnea may also cause tension-type headaches, especially in the morning. The pain is usually mild to moderate and feels as if constant pressure is being applied to the front of the face or to the head or neck. It also may feel as if a belt is being tightened around the head. Most often the pain is felt on both sides of the head. People who suffer tension-type headaches may also feel overly sensitive to light and sound but there is no pre-headache aura as with migraine. Typically, tension-type headaches usually disappear once the period of stress or related cause has ended.”

According to the Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology: "By far the most common type of [tension-type] headache people experience (90-92%), these are triggered by muscular tension, bony misalignment, postural patterns, eyestrain, temporomandibular joint disorders, myofascial pain syndrome, ligament irritation, or other musculosketetal imbalances. Tension-type headaches may also be described as episodic (happening fewer than 15 times per month) or chronic (happening more than 15 times per month)." Also stated in the reference: "For the most common tension-type headaches, massage is resoundingly indicated. These episodes are an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how many seemingly disconnected postural and movement patterns can create pain in an entirely different area of the body."

http://ed.gr/z552