Levator Scapulae Trigger Point Release and Stretch
The Levator Scapulae, lovingly called “Darth Levator” by my clients can cause a lot of pain and discomfort in the neck and shoulders. This tiny muscle really packs a punch and makes a lasting impact on its host.
When looking at someone with levator scapulae restrictions you can probably spot them a mile away. You will notice that they will turn their whole body to look at you or move their eyes in unnatural ways to make up for the fact that they cannot turn their head to look at you.
Releasing this muscle through trigger point release honestly isn’t like singing along to your favorite tune. When I work on the trigger points of this muscle I’ve had clients yell out, “yabba-dabba-do”, or they start singing “Hummingbird” by Seals and Croft. I have a glass hummingbird on my ceiling that I received as a gift from a client that they affectionately named Ouch. It’s on my ceiling as a focal point for my clients to look at during those painful times to remind them to breathe.
Over the years, my client’s that typically come to me with levator scapulae problems typically have a stiff neck, preventing them from turning their head to either side along with flexion of the head to one side along with cervical rotation (flexing your neck to your sternum, then rotating it to either side so your chin touches your clavicle).
The more you know about how your muscles and body function, the better you can take care of them.
Origin– Transverse processes of cervical vertebrae C1-C4
Insertion- Superior and medial Border of the scapula
Primary Action- Elevates the scapula Palpation- Locate the superior angle of the scapula and the upper region of the medial border of your scapula. Work through your trapezius muscle. These muscle fibers will most likely have a ropy texture to them. Follow these fibers up towards the base of your head, to the top of your cervical spine (and base of your head).
Trigger Points- You have two trigger points located lower near the base of your neck. These trigger points can restrict your cervical rotation range of motion towards the opposite side. As an example, if you have restrictions turning your head to the left your right levator is restricted in its range of motion. To find these trigger points roll over the muscle to where you feel the tenderness and apply static pressure onto that area. While applying static pressure onto that area rotate your head to the opposite side.
