Neck and Shoulder Pain The neck is clearly a vital component of our anatomy due to its responsibility for connecting our brain to the rest of the body. Everything that passes through the neck is vital and relies heavily on proper function of the musculoskeletal system to protect and support these structures. Stress is stored in these muscles and can cause headaches, shoulder pain, and other damaging compensations. Sitting at a computer all day, looking down while running, whiplash, sleeping poorly, or sudden movements and changes in direction are also common causes of neck pain. Factors include muscle strain, ligament sprains, arthritis, spinal subluxations, pinched nerves, knots or adhesions, and countless other musculoskeletal complications. The pain is usually not only felt in the neck itself, but also into the base of the neck and the shoulders. Generally the pain can be categorized into two conditions: muscle strain or myofascial strain. Muscle strain can occur when there is an injury to the muscles of the neck, causing spasm of the cervical and upper back muscles. The strain may result from the physical stresses of everyday life, including poor posture, muscle tension from psychological stress, or poor sleeping habits. Typically symptoms include pain, stiffness, and tightness in the upper back or shoulder. Myofascial pain causes tight and tender areas of muscle that are sensitive to pressure. Myofascial pain in the neck can develop after trauma or with other medical …
kinesiotape
KT Tape: Rib
Rib Pain The ribs are the individual bones that form the rib cage. The rib cage serves to protect the vital organs such as the lungs and the heart. The rib cage spans from the neck to near the hips and is made of hard bone tissue for protection, but pieced together by flexible cartilage to allow for expansion of the lungs for breathing. Muscles in between each rib hold the bones together, maintain proper spacing, and facilitate the expansion for breathing. Humans have 12 pairs of ribs: 14 true ribs that surround the body, 6 false ribs that partially surround the body starting from the sternum, and 4 false ribs that originate at the spine and do not surround the body at all. Ribs can become bruised, broken, separated, and the muscles can be pulled or torn. Excessive strain in twisting motions, abrupt direction changes, or a blunt force can all cause muscle pain of the ribs, while blunt or sharp forces are almost always the cause of breaks or bruising. Rib pain is often felt at or around the ribs and can radiate into the back or abdominals. The pain can range from sore or annoying on inspiration to extremely painful and disruptive of normal breathing. Use KT Tape to relieve pressure and pain, increase circulation to promote the healing process, and relax any strained muscles. Due to the properties of KT Tape, the ribs remain flexible enough to allow for breathing, but excess motion is alleviated and increased circulation is encouraged. This flexible support provides a very …