Muscles causing headaches - Suboccipital Muscles - Dr Gert Ferreira - Chiropractor in Centurion
Suboccipital muscles - Dr Gert Ferreira - Chiropractor in Centurion
In the last part of our series - Muscles causing headaches - are we looking at the group of muscles named the Suboccipital muscles. There are 4 muscles in total in this group and all 4 will be discussed in detail. They can cause a nasty headache but they are treatable.
Anatomy:
There are 4 muscles in this group:
1) Rectus capitis posterior major:
Origin - Spine of C2
Insertion - Lateral portion of inferior nuchal line
Action - Extension, rotation and lateral flexion of head
Nerve supply - Suboccipital nerve
2) Rectus capitis posterior minor - might be absent
Origin - Posterior tubercle of C1
Insertion - medial portion of inferior nuchal line
Action - Extension and lateral flexion of head
Nerve supply - Suboccipital nerve
3) Obliquus capitis superior
Origin - Transverse process of C1
Insertion - Below inferior nuchal line
Action - Extension, rotation and lateral flexion of head
Nerve supply - Suboccipital nerve
4) Obliquus capitis inferior
Origin - Spine of C2
Insertion - Transverse process of C1
Action - Extension and rotation of head
Nerve supply - Suboccipital nerve
These 4 muscles are mainly there to support the head in posture.
Common Injuries:
These muscles are most commonly injured during whiplash and poor posture or stress.
Pain pattern:
Subocipital muscle referral - Dr Gert Ferreira - Chiropractor in Pretoria
As you can see these muscles refer from the back/base of skull all the way to the eye and the forehead area. These muscles are normally involved along side Trapezius, Sternocleidomastoid and Splenius musces.
How a chiropractor can treat this muscle:
Typically a Chiropractor will do an array of soft tissue work (muscle work) that includes, massage, myofascial dry needling (wrongly referred as Acupuncture), kinesio taping (RockTape), Ultrasound and even Fascia "release".
A Chiropractic adjustment will be delivered to the affected neck vertebrae to "reset" the body system and try to get homeostasis.
Home treatment includes:
Stretching
Ice or Heat therapy - Click here for a blog on Ice therapy, but heat therapy can work just as well
For more infomation please feel free to get hold of us:
012 663 1572
082 803 1949
dr.gertferreira@gmail.com
Regards
Dr Gert Ferreira
Chiropractor in Centurion - Pretoria