Trigger Point: Upper Trapezius


Please be sure to refer to What Are Trigger Points and How To Release Trigger Points when working on trigger points at home. As always, please consult with your primary care physician prior to any type of treatment.

Upper Trapezius: Muscular Origins, Insertions, Actions, and Nerve Innervations
Our upper trapezius muscle is located in our upper back to neck. The muscle originates from the external occipital protuberance, the medial portion of the superior nuchal line of the occiput, and the ligamentum nuchae. The muscle fibers insert into the lateral third of the clavicle, acromion process, and the spine of the scapula.

When contracted, the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle extend the head and neck. The nerves that are associated with this muscle are the spinal accessory and the cervical plexus.

Upper Trapezius Trigger Points: Location and Possible Symptoms


The upper trapezius has two main trigger points. The first one is located in the more superficial muscle fibers as illustrated above. The second trigger point is found just underneath the first one.

When the first trigger point is active, you may feel pain into your temple, the back corner of your jaw, traveling down the side of your neck, or into your eye. When the second trigger point is active, you may feel referral pain into the base of your skull.


Corinne D. Bracko-Douglas, CMT, LMT, CKTP is the owner of Dochas Clinical Massage Therapy based out of Columbia, MO. She received her diploma in Clinical Massage Therapy from The Soma Institute in Chicago, IL in 2004. She enjoys teaching others about how to live a healthy lifestyle and still works one on one with clients out of her private clinic. When not working as a therapist she can be found enjoying trail hikes with her wonderful husband, Lee, and their adorable doggos, Shadow and Koda, or trying out fun new workouts to expand her knowledge of the human body and how it functions.

The advice given in these articles is not meant to diagnose. Please always consult with a health care provider before performing any of the techniques described upon yourself.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Self Trigger Point Therapy: How to Release Trigger Points

Image
There are many different methods that have been done over the years to release trigger points in the body. These methods include injections, spraying the skin with refrigerant and then stretching the frozen tissue, and massage therapy. Of all the options, massage tends to be the safest, most effective form of treatment. In the event of injections, there can be additional scarring caused by the injection itself. When releasing a trigger point on yourself, safety must be kept in mind. Many trigger points can be released with the use of a tool, such as a theracane, or even a baseball or golf ball. How Does Trigger Point Release Work? As discussed in a previous post , trigger points are caused by a contracture within muscular tissues. To release a trigger point, we must overload the sensory nerve endings in the area, forcing the muscle to release and relax. Once the muscle is relaxed, it must be stretched to reset the muscle fiber length. Warming up the Area When releasing a trig
Read more

Plantar Fasciitis: A Look At The Underlying Causes

Image
Plantar Fasciitis is generally characterized as sharp, stabbing pains in the bottom (plantar surface) of the foot. The location of the pain may vary from person to person, with some people feeling the pain located directly under their heel, while others feel the pain more in the arch of the foot. For most individuals, this pain is greatest upon waking, followed by a slight decrease in pain throughout the middle of the day, and then another spike as the end of the day nears. The Anatomy Behind Plantar Fasciitis The key muscular players in planter fasciitis are the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles along the back of the lower leg (commonly referred to as the calf muscles), as well as possible tibialis anterior and/or the peroneus muscles involvement. Due to overuse, the muscles will pull on the plantar fascia, which is a sheet of fascia that goes along the bottom of your foot. This fascia attaches to the medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity (heel bone) at the back of your f
Read more

Swedish Massage For Yourself

Image
What are the benefits of performing Swedish massage on yourself? Aside from the fact that it feels good, Swedish massage has been known to produce measurable biological effects that can decrease anxiety, help lower blood pressure, and boost your immune system. So, how can you help yourself receive these benefits? It is completely possible to provide yourself Swedish massage techniques on various parts of your body depending upon your personal flexibility level. With Swedish massage, lotion or oil is optional since you are not working into deeper tissues. Body Mechanics Whenever people scoff at my ability to provide 2 hour and longer massages, I just reassure them that it all comes down to body mechanics. This is the same if you are providing massage for yourself or for someone else. Key Points of Body Mechanics: Make your hand into a tool. To do this, use your other hand to reinforce your work. For example, if you are using your thumb along an area, take your other ha
Read more