Pressure on the middle and upper part of the trapezius muscle can stimulate cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve), which originates at the base of the skull and exits through cervical vertebrae 6 and 7.
The cranial component then branches into the vagus nerve, which is the longest of the autonomic nervous system and one of the most important in the body.
The spinal portions of the accessory nerve continue along the internal carotid artery, penetrating and innervating the SCM (sternocleidomastoid) and finally the ‘traps’.
The trapezius muscle (traps) is the only muscle of the upper limb that does not receive its innervation (supply of nerve function) from the brachial plexus.
Tension headaches, partial paralysis, nerve pain (neuropathy) are possible symptoms that may occur due to the important functions and pathways of the nerve’s spinal (external) portion that makes it particularly vulnerable to injury.
For thousands of years, we have manually manipulated the many layers of tissue in the body for healing purposes using hands, fingers, feet, knuckles, knees, and elbows, and have developed many culturally diverse massage techniques.
While most types of massage aim to relax the body and mind, remedial massage can go beyond that and rehabilitate the body to reconnect with the mind and heal itself naturally and safely, allowing the patient to return to thoughtless fearless movement after an injury.
Stretching the fascia (connective tissue) in the suboccipitals and lengthening the cervicle spine.
The suboccipital muscles attaching to the occipital bone at the back of your heavy skull (like a bowling ball), work relentlessly to assure your head is balanced on top of a platform measuring only about a third as your spine wide.
Pain in these groups may not always be noticed until we experience headaches, migraines and we all know how dangerous sleeping can be.
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Between the prominent V-shaped neck muscles (sternocleidomastoid), the trapezius and collarbone, are the 3 scalenes, a tricky group to access in this Bermuda triangle of muscles.
They are responsible for moving the neck and raising the first two ribs to facilitate breathing, and can often be the cause of many aches and pains that extend from the middle of the back to the chest and arms.
When we think about posture, we often forget the jaw, which is crucial for overall body alignment. Correcting jaw alignment can balance the muscles in your head, neck, and spine, improving posture and reducing pain. Treatments include jaw exercises, orthodontics, physical therapy, and stress management.
Mouthguards like the Functional Activator can also help reduce teeth grinding by improving tongue posture at night.
Your jaw and cervical spine are intricately connected by a network of muscles, fascia, nerves, and joints. Misalignment, often from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, can induce compensatory changes in the cervical spine.
This imbalance disrupts the muscles supporting the head and neck, leading to a cascading effect on the cervical spine and reflects down through the entire body.
