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June 14, 2007

Gentle Release Of Neck Tension

I like to report on commonly seen conditions when they occur in clusters. This week I've seen an inordinate amount of neck tension. And while neck and shoulder tension is the bread and butter of my practice, this pattern of tension is different than usual.

Many of my clients are reporting headaches. What I'm finding in their neck is tension in the muscles at the base of the skull immediately behind sternocleidomastoid (SCM). Palpating these muscles, I find them hard and unyielding. I like working in this area with my clients laying supine. I position my fingers just posterior to the SCM beneath the mastoid process and apply pressure. It is important to use pressure which meets the tension but does not dig into the muscle (because this area can be very sensitive). I usually get a comment from the client about how sore the area is and that they didn't even know they hurt there.

Then from this contact area, I jostle the client from side to side. The trick here is that your client is relaxed. If there is tension from conversation or an attempt for the client to assist, it won't work. I often use a mental cue to get my clients to relax by saying "let your body go and relax like a rag doll." The mental image of a rag doll is clear and their body visibly flops on the table from head to foot. During the technique the client may tense up again and I'll say something like "remember Raggedy Ann," (Raggedy Andy if their a guy) and again they will visibly relax.

Working up and down the side of the neck doing this technique is not only wonderfully gentle, but very effective. Take up the "slack" in the muscle as it relaxes. As the clients' tension releases they may report their sinuses opening and draining. If they came in with a headache, that may ease as well. I always follow this technique with a cranial base release which feels wonderful and allows me to gently stretch the neck and often releases other tension patterns present in the neck and upper back. Finally, don't forget to check the scalene muscles. The triangle at the base of the neck just above the clavicles on either side of the neck is often hard as a rock and it is not supposed to be. Again using pressure, which meets but does not dig into the muscle, responds well to the side-to-side jostling technique.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at June 14, 2007 7:36 AM