Is your neck pain coming from just your neck muscles? Could it be coming from your chest!?

Neck pain is arguably the second most common type of muscular pain a physiotherapist will see, second to low back pain. In over 99% of cases, neck pain is due to muscle over activity.

You'd be forgive for thinking if you have neck pain, then your neck muscles are at fault. You wouldn't be entirely incorrect, yet they are not the only muscles that are involved in neck pain. In fact, some of the muscles in your chest and ribs are highly likely to be playing a part in your neck pain too!

In our chest, is a small muscle called Pectoralis Minor. This sits deep and below the more famous Pectoralis Major or pecs. The role of the pectoralis minor is when we take a deep breath (forced inhalation) and anterior tilt or upward rotation of the scapula or shoulder blade. And it is these roles where we have to consider its involvement in neck pain.

Pectoralis Minor is one of the key muscles involved when we protract or round our shoulders, typically, when we hunch over or hug ourselves.

This in turn tilts the scapula or shoulder blade upwards.

And it is here where we can start to put the complete picture together with regards to neck pain.

When we think of muscles involved in neck pain, we typically think of the upper trapezius. These are the thick, big muscles that give the sides of our neck our shape. When we have neck pain, for example; following a whiplash type injury or sleeping in an awkward position, these muscles cause us pain and stiffness. Additionally, these muscles can be very painful to the touch. However, as this image demonstrates, pectoralis minor and the upper trapezius perform some identical roles. When the scapula upwardly rotates and we round our shoulders, this in turn activates and therefore over-activates the upper trapezius. Therefore, next time you have neck pain and your neck is very painful to touch, don't just assume it's your "upper traps are tight". Check if your "pec minor" is tight too. If you suffer from neck pain and are unable to manage your neck pain, contact Mike Stamp Physio & Pilates to see if your pectoralis minor is involved too and necessary treatment. Like and follow us on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MikeStampPhysiotherapy