Drawing and aching pain in the neck and back, burning, feeling of stiffness and a constant desire to relax and straighten the shoulders - almost every adult is familiar with these unpleasant sensations. It hurts the trapezius muscle, which occupies the upper back and back of the neck.
Anatomy of the trapezius muscle
The trapezius muscle in the human body has a large number of functions, which is why it is very vulnerable and prone to inflammatory processes that cause pain.
Trapezoid structure:
- Top. Muscle fibers attach to the back of the head, cervical vertebrae, and back of the collarbone.
- Average. Attaches to the processes of 1-4 thoracic vertebrae and the scapula.
- Lower. It is located at the level of 5-12 thoracic vertebrae, to the processes of which, as well as to the scapula, and is attached.
The considered muscle has the shape of a triangle, the base of which is located along the spine, and the apex is near the acromion (end) of the scapularbones. There are two of them in the human body, so a situation is possible when the trapezius muscle hurts on the right, on the left, or on both sides. Connected together, these muscles resemble a trapezoid in shape, which is how they got their name.
Functions of the trapezius muscle array
The main function of the trapezoid is to move, support and stabilize the spine and shoulder blades.
Thanks to this muscle mass, a person can perform the following actions:
- raise hands;
- tilt and turn your head;
- shrug;
- reduce and spread the shoulder blades;
- raise and lower collarbones.
In the event of inflammation, sprain or other problem, the muscle cannot fully perform its assigned function. This condition requires immediate treatment.
Causes of pain in the trapezoid area
The human body is very sensitive to the impact of various negative factors and responds to them with pain and discomfort.
Why does the trapezius muscle of the back hurt:
- Stretching the muscle. It can occur when there is no warm-up before playing sports, due to heavy lifting (both in everyday life and during strength training), after a sharp turn of the head.
- Injury, bruise. Typical for athletes, often occurs after the formation of a hematoma.
- Diseases, degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system. These include migelosis,tendinitis.
- Regular muscle damage. Not only choppy movements can harm muscle tissue. Regular repetition of the same movements (constantly performed dance moves, gymnastic exercises, and even wearing a heavy backpack) can provoke pain in the trapezium.
- Constant voltage. Even in the absence of visible loads, muscles can suffer from the same position in which a person is (working at a computer, driving a car).
- Concomitant diseases of the skeleton (kyphosis, scoliosis, other postural disorders).
- Chronic hypothermia. Frequent exposure to low temperatures can lead to severe spasms of the trapezius muscle, as well as an inflammatory process - myositis.
- Stressful condition. Worry, anxiety, and depression can cause tension in the trapezium, resulting in pain.
If even one of the negative factors listed above is present, it is necessary to carefully listen to the signals of the body so as not to "miss" the disease.
Signs and symptoms of pathology
To understand whether the trapezius muscle of the neck or back hurts, it is important to know the signs of this condition.
Trapezoid myalgia symptoms:
- aching pain in the neck, shoulders, between the shoulder blades;
- pain is permanent, only treatment brings relief;
- muscle tension in the upper back, neck;
- headache in the back of the head;
- limited movementhands, head, neck;
- increased pain on pressure;
- difficulty concentrating, poor sleep quality.
If such signs occur, do not panic - competent timely treatment guarantees a return to a full life and getting rid of unpleasant symptoms.
Diagnosis of myalgia of the trapezius muscle mass
After applying for qualified help, the doctor must first make sure that there are no serious pathological conditions (aneurysms, various forms of neuralgia, migraine). After conducting the necessary studies to exclude such diagnoses, the doctor proceeds to find out why the trapezius muscle hurts.
Applied diagnostic methods:
- Interrogation of the patient. The doctor will ask questions about the location, strength, duration and nature of the pain.
- Collecting an anamnesis. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor must know about all concomitant diseases and injuries.
- Palpation. By probing the site of pain, you can determine the presence of muscle spasms, muscle atony and atrophy.
- Blood test. It will help confirm or refute the presence of an inflammatory process.
- Muscle tests. With their help, you can identify strength and tone in various parts of the muscle, check for reflexes.
Trapezoid pain treatment
How to act if the trapezius muscle hurts? What to do to get rid of acute symptoms? These are the standard questions people face with muscle pain. essenceThe treatment of any myalgia is to alleviate its symptoms, namely, the elimination of the sensation of pain, tension, burning.
Methods of treating pathology:
- Motor passivity - to relieve muscle tension, it is necessary to ensure maximum peace.
- Cold compresses - ice or any chilled object will help reduce pain and reduce swelling.
- Heat treatment - hot shower, warm clothes, warm compress; all these devices will stop the inflammatory process, relieve tension.
- Massage - by massaging the back and shoulder girdle, you can relieve muscle tension and inflammation.
Gymnastics - there are special exercises to eliminate pain in the trapezius muscle, yoga is also recommended; but before choosing any complex, you should definitely consult a doctor
Drug treatment - to relieve acute pain, painkillers are prescribed ("Diclofenac", "Ibuprofen", "Fastum Gel")
As with any disease, do not overlook the situation when the trapezius muscle hurts. With a timely visit to the doctor, treatment will be prescribed, and unpleasant symptoms will quickly disappear.
