The SCM Muscle of the Neck | A Usual Cause of Neck Pain, Headaches, Dizziness | Sternocleidomastoid
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2020
- The sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) plays an important role in forward head posture and upper cross syndrome, which lead to headaches, neck pain, migraines, dizziness and many other symptoms such as shoulder blade pain, underarm pain, chest pain, radiating pain in the arms, etc..
In this video I show you how to do a propoer sternocleidomastoid strech and release the SCM. Next to this, you need to fix the causes by posture correction exercises, improving your posture when sitting at a desk all day long, get an ergonomic chair, improve the ergonomics at the desk, etc.
Bear in mind that a posture corrector will not resolve your bad posture: if you have head forward posture, only you can correct it... if you need help, I have different ways to assist you:
- THE POSTURE MANUAL: www.theposturemanual.com
- 10-Weeks Back-Saving Program: www.onlinepostureprograms.com
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Pain in the back, shoulder, arms or any other musculoskeletal pain should not govern your life.
A lot of the pain you feel is caused or aggravated by wrong posture, poor ergonomics and a lack of specific exercises for your muscles and joints. Giving you the tools to resolve these issues is the reason why I created this self care channel.
If you need more, check out these two innovative offers that will truly empower you in the subtle art of posture correction:
- you can get THE POSTURE MANUAL, my best-selling book with 15 readers-only posture correction videos - only if you buy it from my website: oliviergirard.ch/en/boutique/...
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All information, content, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
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Simple yet super effective. Thank you for this gem
thank you for this video ! i was having a lot of issues with headache, dizziness, ear blockage and neck stiffness and tried the exercises. It provided a great relief to my neck area which feels so much lighter and less tense. i had gone to see my ENT doctor twice in the past month and was prescribe cinnarizine and it did helped a slight bit in terms of the sounds in my ear but this helps to address the tension in the muscles
That's great, Dawn! The next question is... why do you have tension in the muscles? Do you have any idea e.g., do you recognize yourself in forward head postures?
How ur day today?
Excellent! This stretch on my side is even more effective than the scm stretch that you recently posted (lying on back on floor, knees up, etc.).
To say thanks for all your help, I purchased your book. You have helped me resolve my scm syndrome and I appreciate your insights into posture correction.
Many many thanks!! I hope you will like the book!!
how long has your recovery been Matthew and was there any discomfort through doing the program
This is most effective ...
I'm perfectly safe ...
thanks a lot...
This is so helpful, thank you so much!!
You're very welcome!!
this worked many thankz
Hey everyone!! If you need more info on posture correction, great ergonomics and better habits, check out the ebook that I wrote for you: www.theposturemanual.com
4-13-22 I was hit head-on by a drunk driver going 47mph, as I was stationary waiting to make a left turn.
I’ve been in a daz with horrible headache, ear pain, nausea, dizziness, ringing in my ear and fatigue.
I’m not getting the proper medical care. This video caused me to suspect that in addition to a concussion, my SCM is sprained.
Thank you for posting this. 🙏
Now I think I found the answers I’ve been looking for.
Do you feel better now ? I hope so !
Merci grand frere, ca aide beaucoup
Avec plaisir, petit frère :)
Can it cause heat in forehead and the pain areas? I have read alot of articles and now i am scared of it being something serious.
Hello
I'm 15 y/o I'm having ear canal pain, pain at the back of my head on left side and neck pain.
Ear pain and head pain gets triggered from using ear phones or by hearing loud noises
Can I possibly be having all this due to SCM?
Wow, the searing tearing pain I get one one side when doing the laying stretch is crazy! Really shows it's too tight think. Been getting so dizzy lately and tight band feeling on my jaw, jaw and head, thinking this could be he reason! Should I strengthen it as well?
Hey man I’ve been having tmj problems since I have braces and my ears would ring a lot and my left ear would have spasms still do a bit if I clench my jaw with a certain force . I got to calm it down but it’s still there since the left side was a bit tight and with knots , if I do these would the ear problems go away also ?
I had over the years on and off so much neck and shoulder pain, Some months ago i felt a knick in my neck under the shower and went to the doc because it was hurting so bad, The days after my Tinnitus got worse and after 2 weeks my hearing is weird like I have cotton buds in my ears, The ENT said that my test is good. Can the muscle also give the feeling of that ??
This video is highly informative! But I am curious to ask, 3 weeks ago my left sternocleidomastoid was absolutely painful for nearly a week, I suspected the cause was because I slept awkwardly on the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and also because before bed I'd always look at my phone in an awkward position too, where I'd pull my chin down for a long period of time, not to mention of course I am now aware of how poor my posture is in a daily basis.
And during the pain, my left sternocleidomastoid was swollen as well, but at the same time I felt like my lymph nodes were slightly swollen, so I went to see the doctor. She said it was nothing serious because my lymph nodes were not that swollen at all, but noticeable if you ran your fingers quite deeply into the muscle, and I had no fever or a runny nose, so she gave me painkillers, anti inflammatory meds and anti-biotics, just to be safe.
Fast forward two weeks later, no swollen lymph nodes whatsoever, but my left sternocleidomastoid still felt awkward, it feels really tense if you put your fingers on it, compared to the right sternocleidomastoid, and a few head positions also triggers some slight pain, but in neutral position the muscle just feels awkward and tense, but it becomes super painful if I use my left arm in a certain way.
But then I noticed on my sternocleidomastoid muscle, there is this elongated painless lump, it's not hard, and it doesn't feel deep, it's located right on top of my muscles, and just beneath the skin, the lump also comes and goes, and it also moves, when I use my fingers to massage and push the lump, it disappears, but then every now and then it pops out suddenly, and if I stretch my muscles, it's actually really visible, even more visible if I stretch my skin.
My question is, is this a normal effect of sternocleidomastoid pain? Do some people take more time to recover? And is that lump on my sternocleidomastoid from muscle fibers knotting up? I suspected my thyroids were acting up, but I've checked thoroughly on the thyroid area with my two hands to see if there's any lumps, or visible lumps when I drink, but there were none. I have no problem swallowing and swallowing food, and I breathe completely fine. But just now today, I felt pain in my left jaw while I was chewing food, that runs down my sternocleidomastoid, and there was a moment where a spasm happened where the muscles of my jaw suddenly became stiff, but then went away, followed by some muscle twitching on the left face, slightly above the jaw.
But three weeks have passed since my visit to the doctor, but my sternocleidomastoid does still feel a bit stiff and tight, some positions trigger pain, and that funny elongated lump on top of my muscle. I would really love to hear your feedback and answer to this, looking forward to see your insight.
You know my friend, palpation of the human body is a special skill that osteopaths and others have, but I don't. I see daily (incl. on myself) deviations that are irrelevant so I focus on behaviour & exercises, without focusing on how it looks / feels like. I don't think you should worry too much about all this. If SCM is an issue, my #1 advice is that you focus on forward head posture by applying this protocol over the next 8 weeks: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html... let me know!!
is it any better now
I’ve been dealing with dizziness and lightheaded for 3 years and one thing I noticed is every time I get dizzy my neck was super tight on each side could this be the reason for that I’ve just gotten used to being dizzy all the time I hate it makes me never want to do anything but stay home
Hey Richard... it could participate in it, definitely. I think that you really need to focus on the issue of forward head posture: ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html. If you don't think that this is a problem for you, then you may want to investigate further but this is in my opinion the first strategy.
If this muscle is tight, does it cause cracking in the neck when turning?
A couple days ago the back of my neck got so tight that I couldn't move.
I actually had some sort of joint attack, feet, knees, hands, shoulders, all felt painful.
Had to do a lot of little mobility exercises in my neck just to get up and around without feeling the need for a neck brace.
Few days later, I thought I had some tenderness in my jaw but it's my SCM. If I palpate it's right on the jugular.
Just feels like I'm falling apart, every day is some new thing. Felt good for a little while there but I guess that was temporary.
Right... if SCM has something to do with your pain, you have to watch and follow this 8-weeks protocol: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html
yes
Hello Olivier. Can the sternocleidomastoid muscle also cause a random dry cough? I’ve read it somewhere that it does
Hello dear! You made me dive in my reference books again... in which I can't find much on SCM causing cough. There are some reports of a the other way around (coughing causing SCM pain) but these aren't on super "official" websites. In my opinion, there is a connection but the pathway would be cough -> scalene strain -> sternocleidomastoid strain: these two relationships are well documented. Does it answer to your question?
I'm not a medic but I have nasal congestion, ear pain, dry cough and neck trigger points. I researched in google and found this. Seems like it could be causing it. "Because SCM’s auxiliary function is to aid in forced inspiration, holding a contorted posture encourages shallow breathing. This can be a set up for chronic trigger points which can cause a domino effect by generating excess mucus in the sinuses, nasal cavities and throat. If you suffer from sinus congestion, sinus drainage, phlegm in the throat, chronic cough, constant hay fever or cold symptoms; it may actually be caused from mainting an unnatural posture of SCM." . You could copy the quotes in the browser so you find the full article.
I hope your dry cough is getting better.
@@juanpablotabordagonzalez8565 Thanks for researching this, mate!!
Hi there, I’ve had a constant headache on the top of the left side of my head, along with neck pain and pain in the scm muscle real bad. My temples hurt and eye. Mostly all on left side. Sometimes it goes to both. Could it be from the neck and this muscle?
It could be indeed, dear. I would also look at the upper traps: ua-cam.com/video/WFrrsaaJhZ4/v-deo.html. But more than everything, I would see this in the light of forward head posture, which is the Mother of all neck pains and headaches. For this, I have another groundbreaking video: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html
I have been having these mild headaches on top of my eyebrow and sometimes ear pain. I notice what when I turn my neck to the left side I notice it a lot tighter than the other side. Also, I noticed that when I turn my head to the left side I can feel like a ropy lump that is not able to be seen but only felt on the sum muscle. I feel that sometimes that pain radiates to my upper back. could that lump that is only felt when I turn, a muscle adhesion? trigger point? it is not painful when I press on it but I do get those symptoms once im done touching that area. What can I do?
I wouldn’t spend too much time trying to understand what happens at muscle level… there’s enough info in your comment to say that your SCM muscle is at stake. Action #1, which should absorb all your energy, is to work on forward head posture: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html 🔥😉
Is a lateral head of the scm normal?
Hello Oliver, I have been suffering from these symptoms tinitus, ear pain, difficulty in side rotating, discomfort while talking etc. And these started immidiately after exercising one month in a gym 11years ago. I tried a lot of things and doctors. what should I do
Hey Roshan, this collection of symptoms seems typically perpetuated by forward head posture. I haven’t seen you yet, not know anything about your job and daily activities, but I know that the medical world doesn’t deal too well with this issue. Resolving this would be my first idea: I see it as necessary, even if possibly not enough. Check my new video and let me know if you want to arrange a call: ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html 😀
Hi Olivier. How can I contact you?
@@lawrencekatzeff2492 by mail, for example :) ogirard@trainyourposture.com. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!!
I am looking for something to release my occipital region. I know that thight occipital region is the result of cervica problems, spasm in traps, levator, SCM etc, but something specific for this please? I have a problem with my right eye, exercises for splenius were perfect here. I know there is a connection there. Can you advice something for occiput? thanks
Hey, thank you for the feedback! I would try the 3 exercises that are in this video: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html, at 48:15... let me know!
How about accupressure? How about pressing on those trigger points? Doesn't that help to get rid of the trigger points and not just symptoms?
Acupressure can be helpful, if done properly. It's difficult to do it on oneself, honestly. But even if you get rid of the trigger point, it may not be "causal enough": if your posture or habits created it, it will come again. You see, there are different levels of a causal approach. For me as a posture therapist, a trigger point is a symptom. Pain from a trigger point is a level-2 symptom :)
i'll try ...i hope it work. daily i'm dizzy
If that's not enough, check out this video and follow the protocol: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html
Hi
For the first exercise that you demonstrated are you supposed to hold the stretch for a certain amount of time and how many reps do you recommend for each side? Thanks
Hey! Every stretch I recommend is to be held for 1 min on each side, only 1 rep per session. You need 2-3 sessions a day: if that's not enough, it means that there's something you do which pours oil on the fire. That should be removed rather than increasing reps :)
@@OlivierGirard Thanks for your reply
@@OlivierGirard hi there. I enjoy your videos and your great professional feedback. I am having concerns with this muscle due for posture because i am a hair stylist and recently had trapezius and suboccipital stiffness, tightness, ans pain that im working through getting over. Some days I feel fine in the above mentioned areas and other days I feel aches and tightness in the sternocleidomastoid area. Is it possible to get rid of the above pain/tightness mentioned above while still being a hairstylist? I'm a natural hair stylist that requires a LOT of brushing, combing and blow drying. Just be blunt with me 😊 I don't mind. My past PT advised me that it'll probably just get worse if I don't find another profession but just seeking another professional opinion. Thank you for your time.
@@feliciaorange1682 Hey Felicia! Thanks for your kind message😄. Professional opinions are often black or white, because most therapists look at the symptoms only, i.e. none of them teaches you how to do your job differently. Hence, they are the firemen who see you put oil on the fire as soon as they show their back: at some point, they tell you off 😅.
If things are taken early enough, there's an alternative path, though. Not always possible (I recently had 3 people for who I need to recommend a career change, but they were extreme cases). For most people, radical changes are needed, but feasible. In your job with your condition, you need to closely monitor 2 things: elbow position (spread forward or sideways), and wrist position (it's too often extended, i.e. bent back). A big part of the job is to find the position that keeps your elbows most relaxed whilst maintaining the wrists straight (I have the very same discussion with the watchmakers!).
To fix the problem, it's a 3-step strategy:
- can you change the hardware: lower the client on his chair (i.e. reach less high), change the tub into a narrower one (i.e. reach less far forward), etc.
- can you improve the organization of your time: how many clients per day, how you alternate difficult and easy tasks, duration of your working day, etc.
- can you behave better: that's the whole discussion on posture (I recently gave a course to a hairdressing school; they were shocked to discover how much they were doing wrong with their body), but also on exercises. For example, if you do my full upper body reset after each client (ua-cam.com/video/yxIkf36TRD4/v-deo.html), it's not the same as if you never do.
Although this live was more meant for office workers, you'll find loads of info reg. how you can fix your neck pain: ua-cam.com/video/qSI_FzKBpkE/v-deo.html.
Hence, my opinion is: as long as you have not committed to this extremely structured approach, it's too early to pretend that you have tried everything 😅. Does this help?
@@OlivierGirard thanks so much for your detail, thoughtful, and kind reply! This also makes me appreciate my hairdressers more lol. I've had tightness & pain in the back of my neck for weeks due to years of loss of cervical lordosis, I'm in session 1 of your 8-session posture course and wondering if I could also sneak in things from later sessions into this 2-week period. Thanks so much for all your advice,--vos conseils pour nous tous qui experiencent les malheurs du corps. Merci!
Can any of this be resolved by doing yoga to strengthen your neck muscles ?
Yoga is one thing... strengthening the neck muscles is another, which you should NEVER do: ua-cam.com/video/doIXqX5kyaM/v-deo.html 😉
Thank you for video. I release the muscle and it feels good but it tightens back up hours later. Do you have a solution? Any advice appreciated. Thank you
I have even 2 solutions :)
Seriously now: this probably means that there's something you keep feeding, in this case most likely forward head posture. Hence, my 2 solutions are:
- the free one: the 8-weeks protocol on UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html
- the one where I hold your hand: the Online Posture Programs www.trainyourposture.com/onlineprograms.html
I hope this helps!
@@OlivierGirard
Merci beaucoup !
Can this pain be behind the ears too both side? And also I'm having my right nerve shoulder pain
Doo u think its because of this ? Pls help
Like I got my mri report it says I have mild cervical lordosis but I'm having pain behind both ear muscles I think which is causing tension headache and my right eye is affected too and also later on after some time my right leg pain also started idk I've got my spine mri + went to all doctors for eyes ears etc pls help....
And it All started I use to workout , pull up bar and dips
And when I do Dips my right shoulder nerve pain but idk pls help it is because of these muscles?
Hi Olivier! This exercise gave me instant relief from terrible neck pain. I’m wondering, how long should I do the exercises in each set and how often can I do them? Thank you!
Hi Hayden! This is great news!! The stretch should be held for approx. 1 min on each side. You shouldn't need to stretch more than twice a day if next to this you do well with your posture & ergonomics. Have a look at the video on forward head posture, it will help you further: ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html
Hi sir, I have been having dizziness and tinnitus since giving birth also I hear a sound in my ears when I lift my eyebrows up, turn head or touch face or head close to my ears. No pain. Also very tight neck and shoulder muscles. And my pt said my left scapula kinda shifted to the side bc the muscles are weak. Neck ligaments I think they r called they form nodule bc very tight. Can my symptoms be due to my sternocleidomastoid specially the dizziness as tinnitus I have almost constant dizziness
Hi dear! The dizziness can be due to SCM (which in this case could indicate something related to forward head posture: ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html). Tinnitus is more known as a consequence of pain in the masseter: www.triggerpoints.net/muscle/masseter), which is often a consequence of forward head posture too, or of stress. The fact that your scapula shifted to the side is consistent with head forward. Discuss it with your physio and let me know if you need coaching for this!
This exercise stretches the SCM very well, but someone told me there is no point in stretching it. They said you are supposed to massage it. Is this true and do you have any tips on massaging it?
Well, there are 2 things you can do with a muscle: relax it or stretch it. Both can be useful, depending on the situation: often, it's a bit trial and error... Massaging is indeed one of the options, to relax but my experience is that it is not easy to massage at the right place, with the right amount of pressure, etc. Reg. the advice that it's pointless to stretch, I would not agree but I'm curious to know why the person thinks that...
@@OlivierGirard Thanks for the reply. I found out I have jaw problems that was causing my ear pain and dizziness, possibly TMJ/TMD. I am following someone's method where he says you can heal it by massaging the SCM and he said stretching it won't really do anything or help. He said you have to massage and put pressure on the trigger points in the SCM.
@@TerabyteHero It could be right in your case. I don't see a real risk in following his advice and seeing if it helps you :)
Bonjour Olivier. J'ai terriblement mal à cet endroit. Simplement en touchant le muscle la douleur devient intense. Je ne sais plus quoi faire. Je vais donc essayer les étirements que tu proposes. Merci.
Ciao Max! Si les étirements sont trop douloureux, essaie 2 choses:
- prends la même position, mais allongé sur le dos: la tête tirera moins sur le muscle lors de l'étirement
- mets un pack chaud sur la nuque (tu sais, les trucs de gel bleu que tu peux mettre au micro-ondes) pendant 10 min, 3x par jour, allongé sur le dos. La chaleur aidera aussi à détendre les muscles.
Mais tu sais pourquoi tu as aussi mal??
@@OlivierGirard Merci beaucoup ! Non, je ne sais pas pourquoi. C'est peut-être le téléphone cellulaire... je ne sais pas. De la chaleur ? Je pensais le contraire. D'accord, je vais tenter avec un peu de chaleur. Merci ! C'est très gentil de ta part ! J'apprécie beaucoup ! Ciao. Je te tiens au courant !!!
The left side of my facial muscles appear atrophied compared to the right. When performing SCM exercises, the feeling of tension that is felt on the right SCM takes much more stretching to replicate on the left SCM. Any thoughts?
There is also ptosis of the left eye
Hey dear! Have you had a medical diagnosis for this?
Hey, I have this and the ptosis of the eye. Is it all from your neck? I’m scared it’s something else
we have to do on both sides & how many times a day we have to do ?
Both sides indeed. If you're fine, you should just stretch 1-2 times a day. If you have pain, you can stretch more (there's no max, really...) but always very gently, and insisting a lot on the upper body reset: ua-cam.com/video/LdDnb3Miwss/v-deo.html
My SCM muscles are veryyyy tight and visible on both sides.Can this cause lump feeling in throat,fulness in throat,reflux.Thanks
Hey dear... we are approaching the limits of my expertise when talking about what you feel in your throat. However, my impression is that this could be due to forward head posture, which impacts the opening of the airways, and which also strains the SCM. I have described the problem in depth here: ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html.
If it's something that you recognize, have a look at today's video too: ua-cam.com/video/TikcBcKKoAA/v-deo.html
My scm isn't tight but I have the same symptoms that you're describing. Has it got better for you?
@@magnusandersson171 no
@@magnusandersson171 vet du hva som er galt med oss
@@the_littlelala Ingen aning tyvärr. Har haft det nu i 3 år men ingen verkar veta. Att stretcha hjälper för stunden men det kommer alltid tillbaka
Hello sir, I'm 20 years old. Last month, my scm muscle got injured in the gym and it even got better in 3 - 4 days. But since then my ear started severally ringing (got tinnitus). Please reply if doing these exercises can improve my ear ringing?
Please reply ASAP.
Hello, are you still experiencing the ringing???
@@lilacue118 yes
@@sutharganesh2798 is it getting better or the same? Have you gone to the doctor?
@@lilacue118 i have gone to family doctor,2 ENTs, psychiatrist, acupuncturist, physiotherapist, chiropractor....but nothing worked.😭
@@sutharganesh2798 is the ringing constant?? It’s not getting better??
Hello. I am mostly sure this is what I am having but couple of my symptoms confuse me. Can it cause cracking in neck and shoulders, also when i turn my head there is sound of sand in my neck?
I understand, dear. What may help you is to understand that a muscle never hurts in isolation: the extremities of the muscles (the tendons) are attached to joints, which are themselves surrounded with ligaments, and all this rubs back and forth on other muscles ending in other tendons, etc... so all this creates quite a bit of a mess. Hence, what you cite are probably secondary effects of these primary symptoms that you recognized, and I wouldn't worry much about them. What I would do is say to myself: "OK, I recognize the pain of the sternocleidomastoid. Hence, chances are big that my head is too much forward, which implies that many other tissues are overloaded as well. Some are already screaming, some not yet. But I shouldn't get lost into all this. Rather, I should fight the big picture = head forward, and watch this video which is gonna explain how to proceed: ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html". Nothing is going to happen overnight, but sustained focus on your posture will help, and I'm happy to assist. Makes sense :) ?
@@OlivierGirard Thank you very much for the reply. It all makes sense, I changed my poor head posture mostly and was doing stretches from your video and they helped a lot. I don't have much pain in my neck and shoulders anymore.
Sand sound when I rotate my head still remains though, hope it will go away after some time too.
I have some new symptoms if you don't mind me asking... lately I have difficulty breathing, it comes on suddenly, feels like I have my nose pressed up against wall, it feels weird, accompanied by tightness in nose and numbness sensation in two front teeth. Could it also be caused by neck muscles?
@@seewise8081 Hey, are you still experiencing the sand sounds?
Hello, could you please help me understand what I might have exactly. It all started with my bad posture habit as I assume, I started having burning sensation in my ears for several days one night, next day I had tension all over the neck, plus jaw, ear pain (I blamed it all on bruxism) but what really scared me is that in few day during walk I turned my head in some way and right away felt dizziness, after 3 days of not looking down at my phone and some easy stretches I got rid of some symptoms, I am currently feeling as if my neck/head is heavy and have some tension, also some pain during sleep can't find comfortable position to sleep and feel a bit off balance sometimes. Also it was only one time experience but I had slight numbness feeling in my hand after tilting my head at certain angle. Had only carotid arteries duplex scan and everything was perfect. Should I also get mri or some other check ups or I am stressed over nothing and getting rid of bad habits will mostly fix my neck problems. Thank you
Hello dear.
First things first: congrats for seeking medical advice. As I intervene mostly at a distance, it's always good to know that a professional could exclude every specific diagnosis (e.g., hernia). If you haven't had MRI yet, discuss it with your GP but it could finish reassuring you. When doctors conclude that they don't know, that's usually when I'm called on board.
I have treated other people with this type of symptoms, that seem related to postural issues indeed (in part., forward head posture: check out ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html). I wouldn't be surprised if you would have entered a vicious cycle involving sternocleidomastoid (you nailed it!), scalene, masseter and therefore round shoulders and slumped mid back... aggravated by stress and anxiety due to your symptoms.
There is good and bad news in there: good news is that there does not seem to be any structural damage. Bad news is that it can happen if you don't fix the causes. Plus, it will take some effort from your side: nobody can do the job for you... but you can get guidance if you like!
Let me know if you want to discuss it: at the bottom of www.onlinepostureprograms.com there's a link to book a chat with me. I'm super busy but if you're serious about it, it's my pleasure to take time with you to discuss it :)
@@OlivierGirard Thank you very much for the reply, It was really helpful. I will try the stretches from the video 1st and will get rid of the poor posture. :)
Hello there !!
My right SCM remains swollen throughout whenever my posture isn’t right while working on a computer. Even if I’m not working i feel like my right SCM is swollen a bit and tighter than my left SCM. Also, my right ear has clogged feeling. What could be the possible issue and any solution ?
did it heal??
@@askeladd2921 nope..still ongoing !!
I sleep on stomach, have clicking jaw on one side, have pain in same side in my eye. When I squeeze the sternoclomastoid it replicates and increases this pain sensation. Is this something that could help? 🤕
I think that what would help most is to reeducate your sleeping posture. I know it sounds impossible, but it isn't. I have done it. You'll just need a second pillow and patience: ua-cam.com/video/qY27BwSQdwI/v-deo.html
@@OlivierGirard thank you 🙏 it does sound impossible but I will work on it
Doctor, can a problem with these muscles cause an increase in pressure? because I have passed all the examinations and doctors can not understand where I got 90/140 in 30 years. I have pain in this muscles from a right side. Working in IT 12 years.
Thank you for your trust, my friend. Giving you a black or white answer is not my specialty - maybe it's actually nobody's. And it's difficult to make a diagnosis based on a 2-line message. But there's one thing I think: stress causes high blood pressure AS WELL AS overall muscle tension, esp. in the front neck muscles for office workers.
The reason is that 1) stress causes co-contraction, i.e. contraction of both agonist and antagonist muscles, which isn't good if sustained 2) stress makes you take less breaks from sitting behind the screen, which increases forward head posture and therefore tension in the neck muscles (in part. SCM and scalene).
Hence, my first question if we would be face to face would be: "Do you sometimes experience trouble dealing with pressure at work, e.g. does pressure at work make you sometimes skip the breaks that you should be taking every hour at least?... Answer honestly."
Does this dirty analysis ring a bell, mate??
@@OlivierGirard taking breaks makes me discomfort and pain in my neck ( SCM and scalene, trapezius etc.)
Bonjour j'ai mal du côté gauche du cou la ou le muscle scm se situe et la veine jugulaire ressort de ce côté quand je suis allongée. Est ce lié ?
Bonjour Melissa! Quand vous êtes allongée comment?
Merci pour votre réponse. Quand je suis allongée sur un oreiller de taille normal. De l'autre côté de mon cou la veine ne ressort pas. J'ai 27 ans.
I was doing incline bench press and this shit started hurting so bad I can barely rotate my head
Same, I guess I did bad form cause it was a pr and I fucked my neck up
@@arnoldlee4625 Issa bitch dawg😭😭 mine went away in like 2 days tho so u chillin
Hey, fitness guys :) Check out my new playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLrkU7wsPQIPoxAV4mqHf1D2xTQxMiQzZU.html
Hey doc is there a reason why i Cant crack my neck?
Hey mate... thank the Lord! Cracking your neck is a bad idea!!!
hey man how can i talk too you or something i have questions and i have been having this i im begging if you could please get back too me
Hey man, sure! Send me a mail to ogirard@trainyourposture.com and I'll send you the link to my calendar!!
Hi Olivier, Could the sternocleidomastoid muscle cause a feeling of fluid draining in the ear/ head? I have had a stiff neck and pressure around the back and sides of my head, as well as in my forehead and around my eyes for the past 11 months. When I lay on either side of my head I can feel a sensation of fluid draining behind the ear facing down. The symptoms initially started after I had 3 ear infections and though I have not had any ear issues for the past 6 months I still feel this pressure and fluid sensation. It is the worst when I first wake up. Any help or recommendations you could offer I would appreciate it so much. Thank you!
Hi Lillian! The exact symptom of fluid draining doesn't ring a bell, nor can I find it in my references. I can find deafness on one side, crackling sound in the ear but nothing described as fluid draining.
Other suspects for this region (although I couldn't find your exact symptoms) could include the masseter, lateral pterygoid and medial pterygoid (cf the pain patterns here: www.triggerpoints.net/all-muscles). But what's interesting is that all these muscles can develop pain as satellite from the sternocleidomastoid and other neck muscles, in particular due to forward head posture.
Therefore, my approach to this would be to say: 1) rule out every ear, nose and throat medical cause by visiting a specialist 2) if nothing appears there, give a shot at fixing forward head posture, which is a massively underestimated source of issues in the head and neck area. At the very worst, it will do no harm... but in today's world (i.e. in a world full of mobile screens), I'm 99% sure that you could feel some benefits from it, in your ear or somewhere else. This video tells you more on why an integrated approach is needed: ua-cam.com/video/xujA8oIxZDo/v-deo.html, and we can definitely talk about it if you like (send me a mail to ogirard@trainyourposture.com).
@@OlivierGirard Damn, t'es vraiment exhaustif avec tes réponses, c'est excellent. Subscribed.
@@StoufSto Merci, c'est super gentil!! The rest in English, so that everyone can understand my point of view. I have exhaustive replies for 2 reasons:
- I'm here to help, because that's where the real long-term game is played both for you and for me;
- the border between shorts answers and dogmas is really thin... I don't want anyone to do things because I told him / her to. I want you to understand and assess what I think before you trust it. To do this, you need to follow my reasoning step by step. Plus, if you follow my reasoning, you'll be able to think by yourself next time: you'll gain freedom, and that's the most valuable gift I have for you 🥳!!
Why does my right scm keep getting caught on my collarbone and get really tight for no reason?
It's rare that there's no reason... usually, it's more that the reason is hidden well 😅. But you may want to check my video on forward head posture (ua-cam.com/video/hdJ1H--uQnI/v-deo.html) and see if you recognize anything that you do more towards the right side: leaning with your right elbow on the desk, mouse too far forward, second screen placed on the right, etc.
@@OlivierGirard thanks👍
Does this also causes weird feeling in the head ?like a jelly feeling that is always there
Yep, it can... it often does. Have you checked out my full protocol to fix forward head posture (and therefore SCM pain): ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html 😅
There is thickening and hardening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, this is very obvious and my neck looks crooked
if so, check out my protocol to fix forward head posture... ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html
Can you please help me
Maybe I can... but what's your question?
Hello Doctor, I've been suffering from on and off dizziness for 3 years.. whenever I feel dizzy my neck feels tight, and I feel pressure in and above eyes, and sometimes in the sinus region too...it aggravates when I walk especially in a crowded place, it's not vertigo but a kind of disequilibrium and lightheadedness....and when I sleep I could clearly see my head moving in sync with my heartbeat....could this be an issue with neck ? I been to all specialist doctors and got all tests done but nothing has come out positive.. thanks
Hey dear. It could indeed be related to your head, especially if you recognize the pain pattern of the SCM muscle in this video. If you want to invest yourself fully in resolving it, I would advise that you check out my video on how to fix forward head posture on your own: ua-cam.com/video/9a5wkLnd54I/v-deo.html. How do you feel about it?
@@OlivierGirard related to head? Sure I'll check that video
@@iqbalhonnur4451 well, I mean to the POSITION of your head... sorry if I wasn't clear ;)
@@OlivierGirard thank you so much 😊
Hi, how are you now? I’m currently dealing the same thing.
Can SCM muscle cause tinnitus?
Indirectly... tinnitus is more related to the masseter muscle (that closes your jaws). An important factor for masseter pain is forward head posture, which typically involves the sternocleidomastoid. You see the relationship?
Can I perform the exercise you mentioned in video in that case Or you have you uploaded any specific video for tinnitus?
@@shanu0492 You can do the stretch of the sternocleidomastoid, but it not might be enough. For the masseter, I often cite this other video which is not from me: ua-cam.com/video/SnaAU8JQFY0/v-deo.html ... but don't pull too strong on the jaw.
Regarding the head being too far forward, my advice would be that you have a look at this older video: ua-cam.com/video/xujA8oIxZDo/v-deo.html (sorry for the image quality... I'll do better when I can). Then, do my rounded shoulders exercise program: ua-cam.com/video/UitiV6V5dNo/v-deo.html
@@OlivierGirard thanks a lot for your instant reply 🇮🇳
If you have other neck problems and tinitus then I think we can share our problems.
You forgot very importent symptom: Ringing ears or tinitus! Thank you anyway.
I have a constant dizziness and my neck posture is forward my Sternocleidomastoid muscles are stifffffff and i can’t lay down no balance i’ve done all kind of tests an brain mri xrays and alot of examinations all of them were normal .. the only problem was my back and neck 5th n 6th dsc space and it was written in the report that the spine doesn’t have the curve that it must normally have so it’s straightened .. i can’t do exercises from the dizzines it’s .. i’ve been sleeping on a lazybot chair for 1 yr now .. is there anyway that i can get rid of this and get back to normal ?
Hey dear. In such a case, my first reaction would be to get rid of all the factors that contribute to forward head posture:
- direct sources (e.g., visual acuity)
- round shoulders (e.g., working with your elbows more than 20° in front of your body)
- round mid-back (e.g., lazy muscles, slouching when you sit, standing with your pelvis forward).
Only then, we'll see what is structural, i.e. what can not be resolved, but only managed (i.e. at symptomatic level).
What is your job?
Thank u for ur replay .. i’m worried that there is something that won’t be fixed .. i don’t work since this happened i’m at home i can’t walk properly and i can’t do anything i just started 2 weeks ago to do some exercises like turning my head “left n right” tucking n stuff like that .. i wish i can get rid of all of this and get my life back i just wanna feel normal cause it’s a constant dizziness it never goes away
When i’m trying to het rid of all what u mentioned it’s hard with the dizziness i’m having to do anything to help with the posture
@@taleen1133 I understand. You see, the list I wrote is a long and complex list. It takes time and effort to get rid of those, step by step. Nobody can do this alone, I think: you need help to succeed.
Maybe we cannot resolve it 100%... I don't know, I have too little knowledge of your condition. But there's one thing I know: if you use your body well, you always feel better than if you use your body wrongly. Sounds simple and stupid, but it has been 15 years that my clients have seen radical transformations based on this simple rule.
If you prefer, we can discuss this on a video call: send me a mail on ogirard@trainyourposture.com and I'll send you my availability.
Thank u very much and yes i’ll send u an email thank u again