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Orthopedic & Manual Therapy Blog

Picture

Upper Trapezius: Should It Be Stretched?

6/28/2020

1 Comment

 
The Upper Trapezius muscle (UT) is a muscle that is frequently accused of being responsible for dysfunction related to neck or shoulder impairments for being "too active" or "tight." We have even heard physical therapists exclaim how they hate seeing people try to strengthen their UT, because they feel people are overusing the muscle, and it is already too strong compared to the other muscles. While this is certainly possible, how frequently does this actually occur? Let's review the anatomy first (Kendall, 2005):
Origin: External occipital protuberance, medial 1/3 of superior nuchal line, ligamentum nuchae and spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra.

Insertion: Lateral 1/3 of the clavicle and acromion process of the scapula.

Innervation: Spinal portion of cranial nerve XI (accessory) and ventral ramus, C2-4.

Action: (with origin fixed) adduction, upward rotation, and elevation of scapula; (with insertion fixed) extend, laterally flex ipsilaterally, and rotate the head contralaterally.
Picture
With the common perception that the UT is often short (especially with patient reports of the muscle feeling "tight" when put on stretch - of course), it is not surprising that stretching is frequently prescribed for the muscle in patients with neck and/or shoulder pain. That's not to say it is never warranted. If the muscle length is truly assessed and found to be adaptively shortened (and non-painful), of course we want to stretch the muscle. However, we must be certain that the muscle is indeed shortened first.

If the UT is truly shortened, you will find the entire shoulder heightened compared to normal, meaning both the superior angle and acromion of the scapula. Often patients are seen with an elevated superior angle but depressed acromion, suggesting a downwardly rotated scapula - components of an overactive/shortened levator scapula. An exercise commonly performed at the gym involved shoulder shrugs holding weights with the idea that the individual is strengthening the UT. However, in this position, the scapula is rotated downward and results in strengthening/reinforcing the levator scapula muscle (Sahrmann, 2002). An overactive UT is also frequently accused as the culprit in shoulder impingement. However, remember that about 1/3 of shoulder elevation is due to upward rotation of the scapula, an action of the UT. Frequently, the patient will display elevation of the scapula when trying to flex or abduct the humerus. Attention should be paid to whether or not the scapula is in upward or downward rotation with that elevation. If it appears to be downward rotation, it is essential that the UT undergoes retraining. In order to focus on the UT, the shoulders should be placed in at least 90 degrees of elevation in order to place the scapula in upward rotation and allow the shrugging aspect of the motion to come from the UT, not just the levator scapula.
Picture
An additional point that should be considered is the impact on the cervical spine. Sahrmann places a strong emphasis on relative stiffness and hypermobility vs. hypomobility in her teachings. As previously discussed, the UT attaches to the cervical spine and, in doing so, can be responsible for pain at the attachment site. There are at least two possible reasons for cervical pain resulting from UT impairment. One, the UT is overactive and stronger compared to the cervical intrinsic muscles. When the muscle contracts such as during upper extremity elevation, cervical extension or rotation is frequently seen (Sahrmann, 2002). You can even feel the individual cervical vertebrae rotating during shoulder flexion/abduction. This hypermobility (a precursor to hypomobility) provides the excess stress that can lead to degeneration and, in the long run, hypomobility. In this case, the UT needs to be retrained with an emphasis placed on maintaining cervical stability and neutral cervical positioning. Two, the UT is insufficient and lengthened, resulting in a pull on the proximal attachment (cervical vertebrae) due to the weight of the scapula and upper extremity, especially during movements. These patients, too, will report that "stretching feels good." Just as the previous example, however, we must strengthen the UT in these patients, with proper positioning as explained earlier.

The purpose of this post was to make us all more aware and pay specific attention to the scapulohumeral positioning both statically and dynamically in order to determine the true impairment that lies with the UT, or if there even is one at all. A starting point we like to use is assessing the medial side of the scapula at rest to determine if the resting position is upward or downward rotation. That should be followed up with a comparison of the superior angle of the scapula to the acromion as well to aid in confirmation. This positioning should then be tracked during flexion/abduction of the humerus. This is just one muscle's impact on the upper quarter, but as you can tell, it is a significant one. For more information on the topic, it is recommended you review the references listed below.

References:
Kendall FP, McCreary EK, Provance PG, Rodgers MM, & Romani WA. Muscles Testing and Function with Posture and Pain. 5th edition. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005. 326. Print.

Sahrmann, SA. Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, 2002. 206-208. Print.

1 Comment
Oktay
6/30/2020 02:52:50 pm

This information is very compact and usefull

Reply



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    Dr. Jim Heafner & Dr. Chris Fox write about their treatment philosophy.

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  • Special Tests
    • Cervical Spine >
      • Alar Ligament Test
      • Bakody's Sign
      • Cervical Distraction Test
      • Cervical Rotation Lateral Flexion Test
      • Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT)
      • Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test
      • Posterior-Anterior Segmental Mobility
      • Segmental Mobility
      • Sharp-Purser Test
      • Spurling's Maneuver
      • Transverse Ligament Test
      • ULNT - Median
      • ULNT - Radial
      • ULNT - Ulnar
      • Vertebral Artery Test
    • Thoracic Spine >
      • Adam's Forward Bend Test
      • Passive Neck Flexion Test
      • Thoracic Compression Test
      • Thoracic Distraction Test
      • Thoracic Foraminal Closure Test
    • Lumbar Spine/Sacroiliac Joint >
      • Active Sit-Up Test
      • Alternate Gillet Test
      • Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test
      • Extensor Endurance Test
      • FABER Test
      • Fortin's Sign
      • Gaenslen Test
      • Gillet Test
      • Gower's Sign
      • Lumbar Quadrant Test
      • POSH Test
      • Posteroanterior Mobility
      • Prone Knee Bend Test
      • Prone Instability Test
      • Resisted Abduction Test
      • Sacral Clearing Test
      • Seated Forward Flexion Test
      • SIJ Compression/Distraction Test
      • Slump Test
      • Sphinx Test
      • Spine Rotators & Multifidus Test
      • Squish Test
      • Standing Forward Flexion Test
      • Straight Leg Raise Test
      • Supine to Long Sit Test
    • Shoulder >
      • Active Compression Test
      • Anterior Apprehension
      • Biceps Load Test II
      • Drop Arm Sign
      • External Rotation Lag Sign
      • Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Sign
      • Horizontal Adduction Test
      • Internal Rotation Lag Sign
      • Jobe Test
      • Ludington's Test
      • Neer Test
      • Painful Arc Sign
      • Pronated Load Test
      • Resisted Supination External Rotation Test
      • Speed's Test
      • Posterior Apprehension
      • Sulcus Sign
      • Thoracic Outlet Tests >
        • Adson's Test
        • Costoclavicular Brace
        • Hyperabduction Test
        • Roos (EAST)
      • Yergason's Test
    • Elbow >
      • Biceps Squeeze Test
      • Chair Sign
      • Cozen's Test
      • Elbow Extension Test
      • Medial Epicondylalgia Test
      • Mill's Test
      • Moving Valgus Stress Test
      • Push-up Sign
      • Ulnar Nerve Compression Test
      • Valgus Stress Test
      • Varus Stress Test
    • Wrist/Hand >
      • Allen's Test
      • Carpal Compression Test
      • Finkelstein Test
      • Phalen's Test
      • Reverse Phalen's Test
    • Hip >
      • Craig's Test
      • Dial Test
      • FABER Test
      • FAIR Test
      • Fitzgerald's Test
      • Hip Quadrant Test
      • Hop Test
      • Labral Anterior Impingement Test
      • Labral Posterior Impingement Test
      • Long-Axis Femoral Distraction Test
      • Noble Compression Test
      • Percussion Test
      • Sign of the Buttock
      • Trendelenburg Test
    • Knee >
      • Anterior Drawer Test
      • Dial Test (Tibial Rotation Test)
      • Joint Line Tenderness
      • Lachman Test
      • McMurray Test
      • Noble Compression Test
      • Pivot-Shift Test
      • Posterior Drawer Test
      • Posterior Sag Sign
      • Quad Active Test
      • Thessaly Test
      • Valgus Stress Test
      • Varus Stress Test
    • Foot/Ankle >
      • Anterior Drawer
      • Calf Squeeze Test
      • External Rotation Test
      • Fracture Screening Tests
      • Impingement Sign
      • Navicular Drop Test
      • Squeeze Test
      • Talar Tilt
      • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Test
      • Test for Interdigital Neuroma
      • Windlass Test
    • HEP >
      • Neck and Shoulder >
        • Supine Chin Tuck
        • Supine DNF with Towel Assist
        • Supine DNF
        • Standing Chin Tuck Against Wall
        • Standing Chin Tuck Against Wall with Scaption
        • Seated Cervical Retraction Repeated
        • Seated Cervical Retraction with Extension Repeated
        • Seated Cervical Retraction with Sidebend Repeated
        • Seated Cervical Retraction with Rotation Repeated
        • Standing Wall Shrugs at 90 Degrees Flex
        • Seated Thoracic Whips
        • Standing Ballistic Shoulder Extensions
        • Standing Repeated Shoulder Extension with Squat
        • Standing Repetead Shoulder Horiz. Abd. with Ext. CKC
        • Seated with Arms on Pillows Cervical AROM (Flex/Ext/Rot/SB)
        • Seated with Arms on Pillows Shrugs
        • Seated with Arms on Pillows Shrug with Scapular Retraction
        • Supine Shoulder IR with GH Centralization
        • Supine Shoulder ER with GH Centralization
        • Holding Dumbbell at 180 Degrees Flexion for Time
        • Cat Camel
        • Prone T's
        • Prone Y's
        • Quad Chin Tuck w/ Shoulder Flexion
      • Low Back >
        • Supine TA Isometric
        • Standing TA Isometric Agains Wall with Squat
        • Supine BKFO
        • Quad Rock Back
        • Standing Hip Hinge
        • Sit to Stand with Hip Hinge
        • Repeated Lumbar Sideglides
        • Repeated Standing Lumbar Extension
        • Repeated Standing Lumbar Flexion
        • Repeated Prone Press-Ups
        • Repeated Supine DKC
        • Slump Sciatic Nerve Glides
        • Birddog Progression
      • Hip and Knee >
        • Clamshells with Progressions
        • Fire Hydrants with Progressions
        • Donkey Kicks
        • Bridge Variations
        • Repeated Hip Flexion
        • Squats
        • Seated Repeated Knee Extensions
        • CKC Seated Repeated Knee Extensions
        • Heel Slides
        • CKC DF with Tibial IR
      • Foot and Ankle >
        • Calf Raises
        • Calf Raises with Soccer Ball Between Medial Malleoli
        • Towel Scrunches with Foot in PF
        • Toe Flexion Using T-Band with Foot in PF
        • PF with Toes Flexed Using T-Band
        • DF with Toes Flexed Using T-Band
        • Forefoot Adduction
        • Gastroc Stretch
        • Repeated PF
      • Examination Templates