Scalene stretch. Platysma
 

I have a feeling that the TOS in MY case is not my scalenes (contrary to most) but I'm not sure and wonder if Im just stretching in the wrong way.. i therefore wanted to ask a question for those who have scalene problems if they wouldn't mind answering

Everytime I have tried the scalene stretches on the web I don't feel any stretch in my neck, only in my platysma. I'm therefore thinking they are not tight or hypertrophied. Could someone tell me of a scalene stretch they do where they feel the stretch in their scalenes (but please perform the stretch with your mouth wide open to ensure it is the scalenes you're feeling the stretch in and not your platysma).

well for me my scalenes are super tight and i can tell bc when i press on the muscle (trigger pts i guess) i feel a little jolt down in my elbow.

i dont think normal people experience this

Sometimes you might need pro help on some of these things.
My chiro did a treatment where he hooked, or anchored his thumbs into my SCM and /or scalenes and did a deep slow tension type stretch of them. May have been called NUCCA technique.

He also did a technique where he anchored the heel of his hands near my collarbones (upper pecs) and did the slow deep tension stretch downward to my chest.
Not much movement really more the a anchor of the muscle and the slow tension downwards.
This was when I was having the severe spasms in mid 2004, my upper body (mid ribcage & up) was more or less locked up at the time.

I did see a physio who thought my scalenes were ok but I didn't have too much faith in her and in theory because of my head forwards posture my scalenes could be tight. I just don't feel it though.Maybe i should try another practitioner

[May have been called NUCCA technique. ]
oops -:o I called it the wrong name - should have been NIMMO , not Nucca :o

hmmm.....

Let me think about this. I will have to do the open mouth stretches and get back to you.

I have had success in the shower, just gently moving neck side to side, with the hot water beating on the side I'm stretching. That's a good one for me. Other than that, they're kind of anti-stretchers, I'm afraid.

My PT used to use a kneading and elongating effort. I thought it helped but not a cure, for sure. Sometimes very painful. Sometimes gave me more pain afterwards too.

Botox helped for about two weeks.

The LED and infrared light pads are wonderful for my scalenes. I can be in a lot of spasms with my scalenes and use the pad on them and that helps me the most. And it will relieve the pain and tightness and I will fall asleep while I'm using it on my scalens. This is a good thing for pain relief and relaxing the scalenes and pecs. Don't know what I would do without them.

Hope this helps...

Is there a cheap/effective one of these that folks recommend?

KY

id go to a pt whos a certified manual therapist
i think some pts like to act more hands on now bc its trendy but that doesnt mean theyre any good at it :x

http://www.aaompt.org/

Thanks, I'll have to have a look and see if there are any nearby in the UK. I don't think they are as popular over here