It's Muscle Monday! Today we are looking at the Trapezius muscle. This muscle originates at the base of the skull which is why it can be a contributor to Headaches and Neck stiffness. It is composed of 3 parts: Upper, Middle and Lower Trapezius. All parts/Fibres are responsible for pulling your shoulders up, as in shrugging, and pulling your Scapula (Shoulder Blades) down and into retraction i.e pulling them together. Whilst sitting at desks, in front of computer screens fora long time, the Trapezius can get tense and sore....Swipe along to see how to stretch and self massage at home.
đ§đ˝ââď¸To stretch this muscle turn your head to the right and tuck the chin in. Pull the left shoulder down and pull the head and left shoulder apart from each other. Hold for 15-20 seconds on each side.
đžTo massage it, find any ball ( I Iike to use a tennis ball or Lacrosse ball) and either on the floor or against a wall use the ball to roll around and find those sweet/tense spots. By circling your arm you are also helping to release tension. Give it a try! Especially working from home now you can do these and not feel silly!