Trouble with chronic headaches, or numbness and tingling into your arm? There are many causes that can lead to both issues, and typically we tend to jump to disc injuries, or spinal stenosis. What if I told you that there is a good chance that something as simple as working on your scalene muscles on the side of your neck could alleviate a lot of your pain and discomfort.
Crazy right, three little muscles on the side of your neck could be responsible for all the pain, headaches, and numbness into your arms. So first off, what are your scalene muscles. They are 3 little muscles on the side of your neck that are responsible for flexion, and lateral bend to the same side of the neck. They also help with inspiration, and movement of the 1st and 2nd rib.
How can these muscles cause so much pain and discomfort, as well as numbness into the arms? The quick and short answer is there are a bunch of nerves that exit the neck, and run through these muscles and down the arm, notably your brachial plexus, as well as the phrenic nerve, on top of that a lot of your blood supply for your arm also passes through these muscles, which can also cause a decrease in blood flow into the arms.
Treatment for scalene muscle tightness can consist of a few different approaches. First off, making sure you have proper cervical motion in the neck is crucial to allow the muscles to function properly. Active and passive releases to the scalene muscles can also help to make the muscles longer and decrease tension on the nerves and arteries that flow through the area. Last working on, your pectorals muscles allows your shoulders to sit back, which helps to decrease tension on the scalene muscles.
Treatment Options for scalene muscles at Brooks Chiropractic include:
- Chiropractic Adjustments
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Active Release Technique
- Ultrasound
- Active Rehab/Physical Therapy
If you, or a loved one have issues with headaches, numbness, chronic neck pain, or just overall bad posture give us a call at the office to discuss if looking at the scalene muscles could be the culprit behind a lot of your pain. For more information visit our website at https://www.shakopeechiropractormn.com or call us at (952)456-6611.