You might spend 8 hours a day with your shoulders hunched over a computer keyboard or work bench. This hunched over position for prolonged periods, sends a powerful message to your nervous system, “this is how I need my body to be” and standing up straight at times can be uncomfortable. Your muscles are tight at the back of your head and get used to being very long and also very strong, which sometimes causes irritation. There's a tug of war going on with the muscles at the front of your torso and at the back. At the front they are short and strong and at the back they are staying long and strong and the nervous system, has the idea that this is the new normal and adapts accordingly.
Massage can help the nervous system realise that being relaxed is normal too and all the tension that is building, isn't always necessary. Especially when it is tugging on the base of the skull and that tug of war between the front and back structures for 8 hours day adds up.
So, what is going on.
1. Muscle Imbalances: Prolonged periods of being in a forward-leaning posture can cause certain muscles in the front of the body, such as the chest and abdominal muscles, to become tight. At the same time, muscles in the back of the body, including the trapezius muscles that run from the base of the skull to the shoulders, may become lengthened due to being constantly stretched in this position.
2. Tension in the Neck and Shoulders: The imbalance between the muscles in the front and back of the body can lead to tension and tightness in the muscles of the neck and shoulders. This tension can contribute to stiffness, discomfort, and even pain in these areas.
3. Headaches: The tension and strain in the neck and shoulder muscles can also cause headaches, particularly tension-type headaches, which are often described as a dull, aching pain that can radiate from the neck to the back of the head and around the temples.
4. Jaw Issues: Additionally, tension in the neck and shoulders can sometimes manifest as clicking or popping in the jaw, as well as discomfort or tightness in the muscles around the jaw. This can be related to the interconnectedness of the muscles and fascia throughout the head, neck, and shoulders.
Massage and myofascial techniques can indeed be helpful in addressing these issues by releasing tension in the muscles and fascia & promoting relaxation. By targeting the areas of tightness and imbalance, massage can help restore proper alignment and function, reducing pain and discomfort.
In addition to massage therapy, it's also important to address the underlying factors contributing to poor posture and muscle imbalances. This may involve ergonomic adjustments to your workspace, stretching and strengthening exercises to improve posture and muscle balance, and incorporating regular movement breaks throughout the day to prevent stiffness and tension from building up, all of which we can discuss during your treatment and follow-up care.
Overall, a holistic approach that combines massage therapy with self-care strategies and lifestyle modifications can be effective in relieving stiffness, headaches, and other symptoms associated with prolonged periods of poor posture and muscle tension.