The Massage Company: Tension knots, knotty muscles or have we got it wrong?
**So why is this muscle so commonly sore, tight or tense?**
The answer may surprise you, and it is this; Levator Scapulae is part of a whole group of muscles responsible for delivering power to your shoulders for the purpose of running or punching during a flight or fight response.
In our long distant ancestral past when we were keen to get away from animals that were more than capable of enjoying the odd human as a tasty snack or main meal, the flight or fight responses were critical for our survival, powerful shoulder muscles partly facilitated great speed and acceleration away from danger (Take a look at the shoulder muscles and running actions of a 100 metre sprinter). If you were forced to fight, then these powerful muscles might allow you to get at least a good punch or two before the inevitable! So they were very useful mechanisms when you were being chased by a saber toothed tiger that you managed to disturb.
**Today, you might believe that getting away from a saber toothed or any of type of tiger was unnecessary and you would probably be right! So why do we respond the same way?**
Just because we have a lower anticipation of being attacked by a tiger it does not mean that we need to drop the protective mechanisms that have saved us in the past. It is just that we experience the stresses in a different way today (Reference Bank managers, work colleagues, family, life in general, let alone driving commuting or sitting at computers all day)
The stress of todays lifestyle can be considered every bit as dangerous and harmful as those in our past. The hormones of adrenalin and cortisol are also part of the flight or fight mechanisms and have a vital role to play in our muscular responses. It is primarily these hormones along with a few others, that create these powerful responses to perceived danger or threat, so that rather than being chased by a very physical, and somewhat menacing tiger, we face the rather more insidious and silent killer of stress.
Massage has been clinically proven to reduce the effects of cortisol and lower the effects of adrenalin, our therapists have been trained to pay very special attention to this particular muscle as well, but we can also do something to help ourselves in between treatments and at moments of increased tension.
**Try this simple stretch…**
Rest your head on one shoulder and stabilise with the hand on the same side by applying a gentle downward pressure to the side of your head.
Do not pull the head or apply too much pressure just stabilise it and do not allow it to move.
With your other hand and arm have your palm facing backwards and slightly behind you and reach downwards so that you feel a stretch in your neck and shoulders.
Remember this is not about pulling the head! It is all about pushing the backward facing hand away from you and downwards to experience the stretch.
**Perhaps a little difficult to explain but easy for any of our experienced massage therapists to teach you at one of your visits to us here at The Massage Company in Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3XD or visit us a [www.massagecompany.co.uk](http://www.massagecompany.co.uk/index.php)**
By John Holman