Semispinalis Capitis?

[fenix]

Hi All -

I believe that Semispinalis Capitis is to blame for tightness in a few of my clients in the T1-T3 region - they don't normally complain about this region as actually hurting but when I work it seems at these points there seems to be roppyiness and tightness. I am trying to figure out if this is the muscle that is the culprit.

I especially see this phenomenon when I am warming the erector spinae muscles with a full sweep. I use the inside hand like an L (fingers pointing away from the spine) and use the back of my fingers right to the side of the laminar groove to warm up the erectors...however this T1-T3 area will pop up sometimes as I am applying any pressure.

As well, when I am working Levator with thumbs and then sweep down the medial side of the scapula the musculature in question will sometime pop up and display its tightness close to the spine.

It is too roppey to be the attachment of trapezius as well it is appears deep to traps...

So, ideas please. Have been studying my Netter's cards...I don't have a lot of technique for semispinalis capitus at the origin area...much more technique at the insertion point at the Occiput.

Any ideas regarding other muscles this could be, and/or technique to release that origin point on the TPs of the thoracic vertebrae would be most appreciated.

I see a client tomorrow that I am studying up on this for...

Thanks!

crystal_compass

 

[ammybaybee]

In Trailguides it says:

"IT can be difficult to isolate the individual bellies of the transversospinalis muscles as they are closely interwoven; however, as a group, their mass or density can be felt along the lamina groove of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae."

I would work it as a group, then isolate the insertion points.

 

[LizzyP]

Thanks Softy!

So warm up with general superficial sweeps and then go in with fingers and thumbs and entrap against TPs gently maybe and maybe cross fiber friction working away from TPs standing opposite of side being treated??

How does that sound to you? Have any different methods you are willing to share?

I will go grab my Trailguide...should have started there, huh?!? ;0)

Thanks again!

 

[Rli R]

So looking at Trailguide...seems that what I am seeing and feeling is actually Semispinalis Capitis, Splenius capitis, splenius cervicis, and longissimus cervicis....schwoo! This is when x-ray vision would sure come in handy...

So I guess it is a matter of treating them as a group like Softy has suggested and then working the attachment points a bit.

The more I learn, the more I realize how much more I have to learn.

 

[jp646]

Sounds like a good gameplan. Just make sure you warm the area as much as possible (hydroc pac is good). You might also want to work the muscles/fascia above/below and alongside the groups. Kinda like treating the whole back as a cohesive whole.

 

[talefairy]

What is the posture on these clients? Is the head forward? If so, all the friction in the world will never resolve the trigger points because as the head comes forward, the upper thoracic spinous processes flare, and the facets do not sit efficiently. In addition, the head being forward from a balanced position, puts more weight force on structures that are not meant to hold it. The posterior muscles tighten up to compensate for the forward slipped posture and in order to safely support and restrain the head, and voila! intractable triggerpoints.

You can work directly on the area, one side at a time, after you loosen up up the more superficial muscles, by applying direct pressure, one side at a time on the side you feel the triggerpoints, then having the client do a slight rotation + slight extension of the neck - just enough to activate the muscle. Then have the client relax, and do a very slow gentle stripping through the area.

But be sure to address the postural issues as a primary part of the treatment, or they will be back on your table soon, looking for the exact same issues to be treated again.

 

[Shaylon G]

Thank you all for your suggestions and knowledgebase.

Thanks to you Gaspen. I will defintely warm up the entire area...that is where my strength is at the moment...I definitely treat the entire body as a whole - that was a founding principle of the curriculum of the school I attended and now I am finding that I need to strengthen really addressing individual muscles more thoroughly.

Breathe...thanks for the info. in regards to postural alignment. The client I am seeing this afternoon is an avid mountain biker and martial arts participant...pecs very tight, as well as subscap, and lats....I always work the anterior shoulder girdle and neck region very well...clients come in complaining of the tight posterior shoulder girdle and I explain that while we will work there we don't want to lengthen anymore because of the anterior pull. Thanks though at reminding me of this because I wasn't necessarily thinking how much that affects lower than levator...so I appreciate this so much!

I feel like I am now ready to take that leep into studying postural patterning and alignment. I have delved in it a little before but I know have the real hands on experience and hours so that it is all starting to click.

Thank goodness for this forum. You all are the best!

 

[Joe B]

So looking at my trailguide and of course the page on the Transversospinalis Group is highlighted and eforum.xxxged with bookmarks...etc...as well as the splenius capitis an cervicis...I learned a lot about them...however I am a prime example of how different the muscular comes across in different people and how differently it can act...and seem so different then what you learned in the book or the class...

Just so cool how the experience is now catching up with the knowledge - I LOVE THIS WORK!!!

 

[littleash]

I worked with the client last week and the session went very well. Definitely Serratus and Lats...as well as the Transversospinalis Group.

We worked sidelying and I gave him a lot of information, a stretch, and dittos of info with anantomy and explanations of issues he is having.

He is seeing a physical therapist who had just consulted with him that day and even the PT was having issues figuring out which muscles are the root cause of his patterning.

It will be interesting to see what the PT comes up with.

Thanks again for all of your help...