Upper Back Stretch: A common need among Cairns’ residents

More than likely when a Cairns’ resident visits the Harmonics studio, their massage needs include stress release of the upper back area.

The upper back muscles attach to the shoulder blade (scapula) and the posterior of the thoracic rib cage. It is not unusual for these large muscle sheets to become irritated (myofascial pain).  Pain in the upper back may be due to past trauma, sudden injury, chronic poor posture or overuse.

Upper back pain is very responsive to massage and stretching. Lymphatic massage can help to prevent and relieve muscle soreness. Trigger point palpation of the proximal and distal attachments can relieve stiffness an d improve circulation to the area of congestion. Yoga and power stretching (core stretching) will also be of benefit to increase flexibility of the area. The video below provides a brief how-to-stretch demo for the upper back:

A complement to these manual treatments are a rich supply of bioflavonoids in the diet, found in good quality green tea and pesticide free dark green leafy vegetables. It is also essential that you remain hydrated, so monitor your water intake to around 8-12 glasses (i.e., 250ml per glass) each day.

Recommended Reading

Neck and Shoulder Pain

Upper Shoulder Tension Relief with Joint Mobility~ The Renegade Health Show