Neck, Shoulder Pain & Headaches. - Sydney Chiropractic & Massage

Kieran has treated thousands of achy, stiff, tense neck and shoulders and associated headaches over the years and often gets quick results. It’s not uncommon for Kieran to see someone who has seen several other health professionals with minimal results and only after a few treatments with Kieran finally got the relief they needed. The number one reason why most people don’t respond to most treatments is because the postural muscles haven’t been released. A 10 minute chiropractic treatment may provide relief in the short term but the postural muscles that attach to spine inevitably tighten again and you have to go back for months on end.

I cannot over emphasise the role of the muscles when it comes to chronic neck and shoulder pain and headaches. Have a look at the ‘shopping list’ of muscles below and notice how the muscles are attaching directly onto the spine. These muscles get tight and restrict movement and compress the sensitive spinal joints. This is why Kieran always does a comprehensive muscle and massage treatment prior to chiropractic, adjustments are only as effective as the muscle work done prior.

A good way to test this yourself is to run you fingers across the muscles on either side of your neck, do they feel “gristly” and “crunchy” as your fingers flick over the tense muscles like a guitar string. What about the the muscles on top of your shoulders, do they feel soft and relaxed or like concrete? Is there a big knot or lump on top of your shoulder blade? Roll your shoulder back and down and forward in a circular motion, can you hear the tight muscles as they flick over your shoulder blades?

Also be wary of so called “posture experts” who don’t treat the postural muscles. In my experience professionals who treat posture use it more as a marketing tool similar to getting “realigned”, people are more likely to pay $80-$100 for a 10 minute treatment under the guise of having their posture corrected. Most “posture experts” couldn’t tell you what muscles cause poor posture yet alone how to treat them, it takes a lot more than 10 minutes.

Click on the image to get more detail on specific muscles, take note on where they attach onto the spine, how they are aggravated, common associated pain patterns and headaches and effect on forward head posture (FHP). The body compensates by distributing tension across many postural/spinal muscles, It would rather be generally tight everywhere rather than extremely tight in isolation. You’ll have a greater understanding on your own muscle anatomy and how it relates to your pain than most chiropractors, physiotherapist, GP’s etc…

Trapezius or “traps”

Levator scapula

Splenius capitis

Sub occipitals (FHP)

Sternocleidomastoid (FHP)

Erector spinae

Pec minor and front deltoid. (Muscle that causes forward shoulder posture)

If you’re looking for an effective treatment for neck and shoulder pain book online and claim your initial appointment offer today.

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Usually felt as a tiredness and ache that runs across the shoulders, may extend up into the neck especially after a long day at the desk.

Almost always associated with tension headaches, base and side of skull and clamp like feeling around forehead.

Highly associated with mental and emotional stress of modern day life, “the weight of the world on shoulders”.

Tends to limit neck bending to the right and left, i.e bending to left feel like stretch/tension on the right.

Associated with with short and tight sternocleidomastoid muscle due to forward head posture.

Tired, tense and burning like sensation between shoulder blades. Pain & discomfort when looking down in lower mid back (see mid back attachment)

Almost everyone sitting for extended periods will have tight traps.

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Often Pain will be more localised where muscle is attaching on top of the shoulder blade, often feels like a lump or big knot that never goes away.

Tends to be one sided and one of the muscles that causes single sided headache, also migraine like headaches and very stiff neck.

Extremely important muscles when experiencing shoulder and neck pain simultaneously.

The pain prevents the person from turning their head to either side, though turning their head towards the side of the afflicted levator scapula muscle is typically more painful.

May cause an high or elevated shoulder.

Notice how muscle attaches directly to upper neck spine, if not released properly, chiropractic adjustments temporary as muscles lock joints up again.

People will have a constant feeling of needing to crack their own neck.

As the name suggests elevates shoulder where people feel shoulders near ears.

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Felt as predominantly lower neck pain and stiffness when looking down “text neck”. Take note how muscle attaches to lower vertebrae, very important to release prior to neck adjustment.

Causes headache that goes behind the eye often described as pressure behind eye, migraine type headaches may cause nausea and vomiting. Eyes become sensitive to bright lights, people will often have to go to a dark room and “sleep it off”.

Notice how splenius capitis is very comparable to SCM? As SCM tightens and pulls head forward, splenius capitis will compensate by creating tension.

Also felt at the junction between the neck and middle back when looking up and/or down.

People may also develop a hump in this area.

Neck pain sufferers will often feel the need to crack own neck, provides short term relief as muscle gets tense very quickly.

Very important with previous history of whiplash or trauma.

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People who sit with their neck forward and extended develop strong trigger points in these muscles as well as having head turned to one side.

Muscles that attach spine to skull, pain is often felt at base of skull, with neck pain sufferers often digging their fingers in that area.

Headaches felt at base of skull and tight band on side of skull above the ears and general tension headaches.

Pain and restriction on rotating head or looking left and right.

Extremely important to release this area prior to chiropractic adjustment.

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Strong muscles that attach to front of neck.

Tension is rarely felt at the muscles themselves, very important with forward head posture, as they shorten will pull neck and head forward.

Very common but overlooked source of tension headaches, will refer pain side of head and around eyes, often described as a clamp around head.

Often head rotation left and/or right is limited.

The SCM is also responsible for “wry neck” or torticollis where neck pain is very acute and debilitating.

Very important with whiplash and trauma.

Extremely important overall postural muscles, as name suggests responsible for keeping spine upright and supported in sitting and standing.

Runs from top of pelvis and all the way through the spine attaching to the neck (splenius capitis).

People who suffer from both neck and lower back pain or pain that interchanges between different parts of the spine are often very locked up these muscles.

These are the main muscles that will lead to an overall feeling of tension and immobility of the spine.

Despite being one of the most important postural muscles and involved in many forms of back pain they are often overlooked and a major reason why treatments fail.