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The Levator Scapulae: A common cause of neck pain and headaches

What is it?

The Levator Scapulae muscle or Levator is a small muscle either side of the neck. It originates from the first four vertebrae of the neck ( C1 to C4) and inserts into the top of the shoulder blade (medial border and superior angle of the scapula)

What does it do?

Levator is the muscle that lifts the shoulder blade up toward the ears, helps rotate the neck and tilts the head back. It’s the muscle in your neck that hurts when you try to turn your head reversing the car or aches when you are tired, stressed or overworked.

What causes it to become sore?

Levator is a small muscle with a big job. Often with poor posture, e.g. sitting all day at the computer with your head forward the muscle becomes overworked and unable to eliminate the toxins produced as waste and by-products of muscle contraction. This is also the case in many sports or activities where the Levator muscle is required to support the weight of your head, such as cycling, kayaking and rowing.

What can you do to help yourself?

The problem tends to be using the muscle in one way for too long… muscles are designed to be used in a variety of ways, the more you use them through their whole range of motion the more they love you for it!! So break up your work, get up, walk, do some thing else for five minutes every hour. If it’s a sport causing this, stretch.!!!..alot more than you do! Include a different activity such as swimming or running as cross-training to give your muscles the variety they thrive on to stay healthy.

Ok, So how can Massage Mavens help?

Wel're glad you asked! If you feel like your head is strapped to a board every time you try to turn around and the heat packs, stretching, and pain-killers just aren’t enough. Call us to schedule in for a deep tissue massage for some specific neck treatment and muscle release.

Massage will increase circulation to the muscle and flush toxins away so your muscles can return to optimum health and range of movement. Regular massage throughout your sports training or as maintenance for work related neck pain will help keep minor aches and pains from becoming more serious and promote healthy muscles.