Mar 19

Written by:
Friday, March 19, 2010 

Last week I was working some trigger points on a client's neck when she asked me what that stringy stuff she felt was. I was in the space between her collarbone, the trapezius muscle on the top of her shoulder, and the V-shaped muscles (sternocleidomastoid) in her throat. What she felt was the stringiness or ropiness of the scalene muscles.

The scalene muscles are located in that triangular space found on both sides of your neck. Together these muscles work to bend your head to the side, rotate your neck to the opposite side, bend and flex your spinal column, and assist with breathing. Consisting of 3 pairs of muscles, the scalene muscles make me think of the Devil's Triangle, also known as the Bermuda Triangle, where things tend to disappear. I say that because one pair, the posterior scalene muscle, may be absent in some people.

I think this is an interesting area to work on. Unfortunately, doing so has the potential to make some clients mutter under their breath. As trigger points are found, referred pain may result. You may recall that referred pain is pain felt in a different area from where the trigger point is located. Trigger points in the scalenes, for example, can cause pain in the hands, arms, shoulders, or head. Numbness and tingling are possible symptoms. Headaches may occur. Referred pain simply means that where you hurt may not be the origin of your pain.

So unless there is a good medical reason not to do so, do not let your therapist avoid the Devil's Triangle. Have some work done to improve your flexibility and range of motion, relieve that stiffness and tightness, and ease some of your pain.