YouTube neck and 1st rib self-treatment
 

It's been awhile since I poked around YouTube for self-treatment videos on 1st rib and neck problems. Here are some worth sharing:

1st Rib Self Joint Mob
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69pUWP4s90I
... This was an interesting approach because I hadn't seen it quite like this before. It uses only your hand so you can do it anywhere.

First Rib Mobilization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfrUXiNETTk
... another strap-based self adjustment. The standard PT recommendation.

Neck Exercises for self alignment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLXr0M6mdV8c
... haven't seen these exact ones before. Haven't tried them either. Who's going first?

Self SNAGs Self Treatment Cervical Spine pain & Stiffness Mulligan Concept Manual Therapy.wmv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyNntKOE0J4
... I have a lot of cervical crepitus and muscle spasms so this is interesting to me. He also shows how the fingers/hands can be used if you don't have a strap handy. Haven't tried it yet, but will.

>> Neck Exercises for self alignment sound interesting. Lets see if my flare goes down so I can give this a shot.

This helps reduce stiffness in my neck:

The "2-Minute Feldenkrais® Miracle" to Free Up Your Stiff Neck, with James Speer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9p7_XPK6lM

Interesting. Does not seem to work for me. My neck goes into spasm when I raise my arms/hands in front of me. I found that doing very gentle passive stretches in various directions for 2-3 minutes makes the spasm and stiffness go away. But if I try to use my arms, the neck goes right back into spasm...

Interesting. My neck used to be ultra-sensitive too. Just holding my head up with my body sideways--which occurs in some body stretch positions--would cause spasms.

Can you share which stretches you are doing?

It seems that multiple muscles are spasming (traps, levators, scalenes and, possibly others) so I just sit in a chair, relax my neck and gently tilt it in different directions so that all achy muscles are stretched. I don't hold the stretch, just continue stretching and releasing the same muscle until the pain is gone. Usually a couple of minutes is enough. I have to repeat this once an hour or so.

Thanks. I call that "gentle movements" or "gentle mobility". I do it a few times a day too.

Interesting.. from what I have found.. the stretches work to release trigger points in muscles which develop thanks to various factors (weak muscles elsewhere, injuries etc). But they recur, so we have to keep stretching. Qn is how to figure out what the causative issue is.

I was looking through Stoxens presentation on TOS. He used a percussion/vibratory massager to loosen up the area and reduce spasming. Worth a try?

Hows your Edgelow stuff going? Has it worked in significantly reducing symptoms? Is it possible to learn it on one's own without a trained practitioner around?

I got to the point where I am mostly pain free as long as I don't use my arms much and keep stretching all day. I agree with you, this is unresolved trigger points.
You definitely can try Edgelow's exercises at home. I found the basic one most helpful: you lie on the floor and breath with you diaphragm, rocking the pelvis so that your neck lengthens with each breath.
I learned it from the dvd.

Thank you! Is there an address one can order the DVD from? I have some folks visiting my place & I can request them to get it for me.

I found no place to order it online.
Ordered by phone from Medical Dynamics. 1(800)945-0302.