Neck Pain

Trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscles

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

The sternocleidomastoid muscles are two strap like muscles located in the front of the neck. They are responsible for producing head movements like flexion, as well as rotating the head to the opposite side. These muscles often become chronically shortened due to poor posture such as sitting in front of a computer screen for to long. When this happens trigger points can form. These points will refer pain into the head, face, and skull producing headaches. Trigger points won’t resolve by themselves, a manual intervention like trigger point massage is required to cause a release.

Rhomboid trigger points

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

the rhomboids are muscles located in your upper back. They lie underneath the trapezius muscle. These muscles are responsible for retracting your scapula, or pulling your shoulder blades back. Since poor posture causes the shoulders to round forward, the rhomboids are often strained. When this happens trigger points will form. These points cause deep achy pain to be felt along the shoulder blade. Once trigger points have formed they will not release on there own. A manual release such as trigger point massage is required.

Trigger point massage therapy.

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

Trigger points are hyper irritable knots found in muscle tissue. These points form in a muscle due to overload stress. Trigger points can form anywhere, in any muscle. Once formed they irritate sensory nerves and produce pain, refered pain, weakness, and stiffness. Trigger points will also mimic symptoms of other conditions such as “sciatica” or Carple tunnel syndrome. Trigger points will not go away on there own, they must be manually released with hands on techniques like trigger point massage.

How trigger points form.

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

Activation of trigger points may be caused by a number of factors, including acute or chronic muscle overload, activation by other trigger points (key/satellite, primary/secondary), disease, psychological distress (via systemic inflammation), homeostatic imbalances, direct trauma to the region, collision trauma (such as a car crash which stresses many muscles and causes instant trigger points) radiculopathy, infections and health issues such as smoking.

Trigger point signs and symptoms

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

Pain related to a discrete, irritable point in skeletal muscle or fascia, not caused by acute local trauma, inflammation, degeneration, neoplasm or infection.
The painful point can be felt as a nodule or band in the muscle, and a twitch response can be elicited on stimulation of the trigger point.
Palpation of the trigger point reproduces the patient’s complaint of pain, and the pain radiates in a distribution typical of the specific muscle harboring the trigger point.

Trigger points in the suboccitpitals

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

the suboccipital muscles are a group of small muscles located at the base of the skull. These muscles are responsible for small movements of the head and the first two vertebrae. They also play a roll in postural stability of the skull. Trigger points are common in people with poor neck posture. these points will refer pain deep into the skull and behind the eye. They are a common source of headache pain.

Fascial planes.

~ bryancobb ~ Leave a comment

fascial connective tissue runs throughout all the bodies layers. It gives the body shape and function. Fascial litterally connects every part of your together. During movement when one part of the body moves, the body as a whole responds. Functionally the only tissue that can facilitate such responsiveness is the connective tissue. When one area of the body gets restricted or damaged, the body as a whole can become dysfunctional by setting up compensation patterns.

How Does Laser Work? 

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Over 2000 published research studies demonstrate:

• Laser therapy improves blood flow and lymphatic drainage
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