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Do you have a client in your office who complains of a stiff neck or "crick"? It's often the levator scapulae muscle, a lateral neck muscle that doesn't take kindly to forward head posture. Here are some deep tissue massage techniques that might help.
0:00 Introduction
1:28 Levator scapulae anatomy and kinesiology review
2:20 Involvement of levator scapulae in posture
2:50 Did the client "just sleep on it funny"?
3:45 Levator scapulae self-palpation
5:20 Palpating the superior angle of the scapula
5:36 Palpation on a client
7:35 Bilateral myofascial release warmup
8:52 How can we fix a crick?
9:48 Moving to one side, unilateral petrissage
10:38 Spreading the neck and pec fascia (sorry for the audio glitch!)
12:20 Incorporating the pec and shoulder
13:10 Pin-and-stretch for levator scapulae
16:01 "Myofascial hold" with neck engagement
17:47 Reevaluating the neck pain
19:17 How to stretch a crick in the neck
Massage Tutorial: Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) myofascial release techniques: [ Ссылка ]...

In this video, I demonstrate a myofascial release routine for gently coaxing the upper back and shoulder region to relax, convincing the nervous system that there's no need for its locking/spasm response. Start by warming the trapezius and scalenes with broad, slow petrissage. By working bilaterally, we can gently introduce safe, small movements to the neck as we work. Move to one side and encourage the neck to roll away, staying well within the client's comfortable range of motion.

Continue the slow softening work, outlining the clavicle and incorporating the upper chest and shoulder. Incorporate the lateral neck when you can, targeting it directly once the general area has warmed up and acclimated to your touch. To work with levator scapulae, I recommend just one or two repetitions of a gentle fascial pin-and-stretch: Restrain the super angle of the scapula with one hand, and draw the tissue of levator superiorly with the other, stopping occasionally to allow the tissue to soften.

Once you've done that, grab as much upper thoracic tissue as you can and give it a gentle squeeze. We're trying to create some traction of as much of the area that interfaces with neck as possible. Once you've got that area in a nice myofascial squeeze, ask your client to gently rock their head from left to right. After 10 breaths or so (or after you feel the area between your fingers and thumb soften), let go and smooth things out.

Repeat on the other side, and then have the client reevaluate their neck pain and range of motion. If they still indicate an area of acute pain, you can experiment with another round of the pin-and-stretch and fascial grab. If you can get them feeling 25% better, I count that as a win. Hopefully they'll be able to sleep tonight!

Let me know what you think about this massage routine, and if you have any tips or tricks of your own. As always, I'd love to hear your ideas for future videos.

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