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Muscles
by Tasso Spanos, CMTPT
In past issues of Boomers, I have explained how injured muscles can develop a highly irritable knot called a trigger point. When activated, even years later, the trigger point can refer a pain or weakness to another part of the body thereby confusing the medical practitioner. A series of trigger points can shorten the muscle causing weakness, because less muscle is contributing to the work load. If enough of the muscle is shortened then the referral pain can begin. Our treatment is to press this trigger point until it releases, causing the muscle to relax, and then attempt to stretch the muscle back towards its original length. Then a specific stretch exercise for a specific muscle with its problem is given to the patient to maintain the improvement. Feel free to call any of our certified myofascial trigger point therapists to find out which exercise is correct for your problem.
After doing the correct exercise, the improvement should stay as long as there are no serious perpetuating factors contributing to muscle shortness. Sleeping correctly is important to prevent additional muscle shortness, thereby causing the pain to return. In Boomers I discussed the correct exercises to do for a headache around or over the eyes, caused by a shortened sterno cleido mastoid muscle. If you missed it call the Boomers office requesting the March issue.
A serious perpetuating factor for this headache, and even other headaches, is improper head position during the night. Your pillow should never touch your shoulder, and should align your head so that it is straight with your body; whether you sleep on your back or side.
You may have to experiment with your various pillows to achieve this straight position. At the Center, we have a favorite pillow that achieves this easily. Reading in bed can also perpetuate the irritation of the neck if the light is not above your head. With the light to the side, you tend to lean toward that direction like an indoor plant, irritating the sterno cleido mastoid muscle. On Friday, June 10th at 8 a.m. in room 458, I will be teaching the 3rd year students at the University of Dental School. The subject will be “When teeth hurt and it’s not the fault of the teeth”. The public is welcome to attend.
The dental students will learn that the sterno cleido mastoid muscle can refer pain to the jaw, beside the around the eye headache. These irritated jaw muscles can refer pain to the teeth. A future Boomers article will explain that problem.
Tasso Spanos, CMTPT, is a certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist. You can reach him at (412) 431-9180.
