Shoulder & Neck Pain


How is a full body approach beneficial?

Posture, strength and mobility of the trunk play a significant role in shoulder girdle function. Posture may limit or drive appropriate scapular muscle activation. Cervical and thoracic spine mobility must be adequate for coordinated reaching and overhead movements.

Strong fascial and functional connections also exist between opposite shoulder and hip. For example, weakness of the Left hip may drive compensation and pain in the Right shoulder. There is even research showing the foot function is correlated with elbow injury in pitchers! A full body approach will address all the pieces of the puzzle.

What's the connection between Pelvic floor and Neck pain?

Often pelvic floor and jaw or neck pain occurs together.  Why?  Because our parasympathetic nervous system originates from the cranium (head) and sacrum (pelvic region).  

The parasympathetic state: When the nervous system is calm, these regions are in a rest and digest state. There is typically lower sphincteric tone allowing one to void their bowels or bladder, and feel relaxed in the neck, shoulders, and jaw region.   

 

The sympathetic state: Let's say we are stressed: our nervous system will be in a sympathetic state and resting tone to these regions can be elevated.  There is even research correlating stress to tone in the upper trapezius muscle(which goes from the top of shoulders to the base of the head) and the pelvic floor.