CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME...PART 2

So, why do our scalenes give us problems?

Although the scalenes help stabilize and flex the neck, their main job is to raise the upper two ribs when you inhale. They normally work pretty hard and constant, however,...

~ if you breathe from the upper chest rather than from the diaphragm, have a bad cough, asthma, emphysema, or even just a common cold, it puts a lots of extra stress on these muscles.
~ Falling prey to anxiety causes the tightening of the diaphragm that makes one breathe from the upper chest.
~Raising the arms for long periods, or carrying loads that are too heavy creates stress that, overtime, can cause our scalenes to shorten and develop trigger points - contraction knots in the muscle fibres.

~Car accidents or a fall often give us whiplash. This violent movement creates lots of havoc for scalenes.
~Forward head posture created by slouching, or sitting in front of a computer for too long (I am pulling mine back as we speak)

Step 1 in healing your scalenes is to determine why your scalenes are giving you 'grief'. Then you can look for ways to change your habits and, thus, reduce the cause and burden they must continually endure.

Step 2. Coming tomorrow :)










Trigger Point diagram taken from "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" by Claire Davies