A newly published analysis of 5511 workers compensation cases highlights the value of chiropractic care: “those injured workers who first saw a chiropractor experienced shorter first episodes of compensation (vs. physical therapy alone)”.
If you or someone you know has suffered a job-related injury, call us today. Our goal is to provide the most effective care that gets you back to work ASAP!
The trapezius muscle is a large diamond shaped muscle in you mid/upper back and neck. This muscle is one of the most common sites where trigger points can form. This muscle originates on the Nuchal ligament and the spinous processes of C6-T12. It inserts on the spine of the scapula, the acromion process, and the distal clavicle. The upper fibres elevate the shoulder and rotate the glenoid fossa (shoulder socket) upward. The lower fibres assist this motion as well as help depress the shoulder. The middle fibres of this muscle strongly adduct the scapula. This muscle is susceptible to postural overload such as sitting at desk all day. Trigger points on the lateral upper edge refer into the lateral neck and temples, causing “tension neck ache”as well as headache pain.Trigger points in the middle and lower fibres refer pain into the posterior neck and shoulder. 
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Your iliotibial band is a fibrous band of tissue running from the crest of your hip, down to your knee. A muscle near the crest of your hip called the tensor fascia lata, attaches to this band to help control movements of your leg. Your iliotibial band passes over the point of your hip and over another bony bump on the outside of your knee called the lateral epicondyle. When the band is too tight, it can become painfully inflamed as it repeatedly rubs over the top of either of these bony projections. Irritation at the bony bump near the knee is called iliotibial band friction syndrome.
The condition usually presents as pain on the outside of your knee that becomes worse with repetitive knee flexion or extension. This condition is the leading cause of lateral knee pain in runners, especially slower “joggers.” The pain usually develops 10-15 minutes into the workout. You may sometimes feel or hear a click during movement. Symptoms generally ease at rest. Running on slick “wintry” surfaces may aggravate the condition. Excessively worn running shoes may be a culprit.
This problem is commonly caused by weakness in your gluteal muscles. When these muscles are weak, the muscle that attaches to your iliotibial band must contract harder to stabilize your hip. Having one leg longer than another is a known aggravating factor.
Runners should minimize downhill running and avoid running on a banked surface like the crown of a road or indoor track, as well as wet or icy surfaces. Runners should reverse directions on a circular track at least each mile. Bicyclists may need to adjust seat height and avoid “toe in” pedal positions. Avoid using stair climbers or performing squats and dead lifts. Sports cream and home ice massage may provide some relief of symptoms.
The Levator scapula is a muscle in your neck that originates on the transverse processes of C1-C4 and inserts on the superior part of the medial border of the scapula. The primary actions of this muscle are to elevate the scapula and rotate the glenoid fossa downward. It also rotates the neck to the same side and assists in extension. When this muscle is tight it restricts neck rotation resulting in the classic “stiff neck”. With a forward head position the Levator is often stretched and over worked. To help combat this you must get the head back by releasing the anterior chest and neck muscles. Trigger points in this muscle refer pain into the angle of the neck and down the shoulder blade.
Aberdeen Chiropractic 