Got a massage client with posterior neck pain and headache? Want to help someone with posture-related pain? Here's my myofascial approach.
0:00 Introduction to tech neck symptoms
1:08 Why does neck pain develop?
3:06 Anatomical causes of neck pain and tension headache
4:10 Questions to ask massage clients
5:13 How to discuss posture concerns
6:10 Massage demonstration
6:45 Starting with face and scalp massage
7:28 Warmup of the shoulders and neck
10:34 "The Harvey Maneuver" (pec/neck myofascial release)
12:39 Arm traction and mobilization
13:05 Pectoralis pin and stretch
13:50 Specific trapezius myofascial release
17:24 Working directly with levator scapulae
20:37 Gentle myofascial release of sternocleidomastoid
24:59 Myofascial stretching for the anterior neck
27:49 A lovely cranial cradle to end the massage
30:08 A neck stretch to recommend to clients
Video about levator scapulae and neck cricks: • How to massage a "cric...
As you might notice, I don't spend much time pressing directly into the neck or the base of the skull. That's because I think of these areas as the innocent bystanders in this situation: The pecs are pulling powerfully, the anterior neck muscles are kept chronically short, and the posterior neck and skull are left to pay the price. If we can convince the nervous system to allow a few extra degrees of freedom and to reduce the intensity of that tug-of-war between front and back, then the entire region should feel more comfort and less sensitivity.
You'll notice that I spend a lot of time pressing and waiting here, which I think of as strict myofascial release. Realize that you can still get a lot done while gliding, or with deep friction, ischemic compression, or just about any other approach. This state of high tension in the upper torso is very susceptible to change! Just make sure to get their body moving, be thorough, and spend time with these areas rather than just rushing through at the end of a session. With some regular input from you as the massage therapist, some daily stretching and movement on their part, and maybe some changes to their workspace ergonomics, this is a situation that can move from crisis to comfort in a matter of weeks.
Let me know how you work with this area in the comments, and tell me what you'd like to see next!
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Music:
Cinematic (Sting) by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/