Levator scapulae muscle pain: Cause, Symptoms, Treatment, Exercise

When you feel pain at the upper medial angle of the scapula bone & feel the tightness in the neck muscle, it is indicated to be Levator scapulae muscle pain.

Table of Contents

What is the Levator scapulae muscle pain?

You feel the Pain above the upper medial angle of the scapula which is known as the Levator Scapulae Syndrome.
One of the reasons for the muscle problems is levator scapulae muscle soreness.
The Levator scapulae muscle pain occurs when the neck becomes stiff & tight due to a muscle strain.
This muscle pain is produced by soreness in the muscle.
This muscle pain is released by to rice principle, medication & physiotherapy treatment.

What is Anatomy of the levator scapulae muscle?

This levator scapulae muscle originates from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of the 1 to 4 cervical vertebrae
This levator scapulae muscle is inserted into the medial border of the scapula which is extending from the superior angle to the junction of the spine & medial border of the scapula.
This levator scapulae muscle is located deep in the Sternocleidomastoid muscle, deep & adjacent to the splenius capitis & mid-portion, deep to the trapezius it is the lower portion of the levator scapulae muscle.
When your spine is fixed, this levator scapulae muscle is elevated to the scapula & rotates to the inferior angle medially.
This muscle is always working in combination with the other muscles such as the rhomboids & pectoralis minor which are produced by the movement of downward rotation of the scapula.
When your shoulder joint is fixed, this levator scapulae are rotates to the same side & flexes the cervical spine laterally but When both shoulders joint are not fixed, a simultaneous co-contraction of both levator scapulae muscles are in equal amounts which are not produced to lateral flexion & rotation & also produce to straight flexion/extension movement of the cervical spine.

What are the Causes of Levator Scapulae Muscle Pain?

A most common cause of the Levator Scapulae Pain is when you Sit for a prolonged period & mostly sit with the bad posture
When apply to continual stress & strain in the levator scapulae muscle is leading to inflammation of the muscle this stress &strain is applied to overload & do the repeating movement.

Poor posture:
When you Sit at a computer with a rounded shoulder which is creating a ‘hunch back’ position, it is a classic example of poor sitting posture.
This bad posture is lead to levator scapulae muscle pain & produces irritation or pain.

Tendinitis:
When the injury occurs in the muscle by the daily strain & physical stress, it is called levator scapulae tendonitis which is become to cause of levator scapulae muscle pain.
This type of muscle strain is lead to increased muscle tightness & tension.

Repeated movement:
When you use the repeated to the muscle by the repeated muscle contractions.
It is lead to reduced range of motion = ROM in the neck, shoulders & arms without therapy & tension headaches.
Depression or exhaustion & some physical issues have come with the.

Other typical causes of the levator scapulae muscle pain include to :
Cervical spine dysfunction
Falls
Whiplash from accidents
Injuries occur in the muscle
Repetitive arm motions.

Some other causes which are also produced by levator scapulae pain is:
For all-day Working on the computer with the head turned
Carrying heavy bags with a shoulder strap
If you are Sleeping on your stomach with your head turned
Emotional/mental stress
Cervical spine dysfunction.
If the stay muscle in Chilling during the sleep from a ceiling fan & air conditioner
If you are holding a phone between the shoulder joint & ear for too long

What are the Signs and Symptoms of levator scapulae muscle injury?

This levator scapulae muscle pain is produced by soreness in the one region of the body & transmits soreness to another part of the body & vastly disparate sites.
The main pain zones of the levator scapulae muscle at the sides of the neck & the upper shoulder joint.

You feel tightness in the neck muscle & over the top of the shoulders joint or between the shoulder blades.
You experience to painful neck & impaired movement for turning to the head & lifting the neck in the supine position.

You feel Two trigger points in the lower portion of the Levator Scapulae muscle pain.
The lower trigger point of muscle pain is located directly above the superior angle of the scapula.
The higher trigger point of muscle pain is located 1-3 inches above it.
Both trigger points of the muscle pain are located too deep within the upper trapezius muscle & convey pain laterally to the shoulder blade.

You also feel spasms & swelling around the area of muscle pain.
You also feel weakness & numbness in the arm.
You also feel stiffness in the muscle.

How the levator scapulae muscle is affecting the head & neck posture?

The levator scapula muscle is performed to the principal role in retaining the shoulder blade which is configured so that promotes a vertical alignment of the head on the neck & prevents forward head posture when the head is extended too far ahead.

The shoulder blade is a highly mobile bone by nature.
So that it is tough to maintain the joint in a stable condition which is preserved to proper neck posture.
In many circumstances, the cervical spine is subjected to dynamic opposing movements which demand the muscles & bones to shift the independently & collaborate to keep the activity going like as Typing, staring down at a phone & sitting at a desk.

Many people stay in a slouched position which does not provide lumbar support.
So that if the individual’s chair is not flexibly created to ergonomic standards, so the effect of spinal alignment becomes more severe.
These slouched postures tend to drive the shoulder blade upward & downward, stretching & elongating the levator scapulae muscle.
As the muscles lengthen, it also becomes tenser to compensate for the loss of stability.
Tension is usually associated with pain & a loss of tension integrity in the joint complex which is the muscle belongs.

How the levator scapulae pain is affecting the scapulohumeral Rhythm?

Downward Rotation Scapular Syndrome is a typical clinical finding in people who have suffered from painful Levator Scapulae.
A position like as long periods of sitting is put undue tension on the upper back muscles.
So that muscles are stretched, the amount of pressure is exerted on the increases.
This mid-upper corner of the scapula bone also is chronically elevated when the levator scapulae are too tense.
When this occurs because the muscle becomes weak due to the excess tension, it is begin to trigger a similar effect in the nearby muscles, which also have to over-exert themselves to compensate for the soft spot.
When the arm is elevated, the scapula bone has difficulties upwardly rotating as needed so that kept in a downward rotated position.
As the arm tries to rise & compression in the subacromial region is occur, causing issues in the glenohumeral joint
As to the result, the early stages of the rotator cuff damage are typical in the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, & subscapularis, which is created as a stabilization system for the shoulder joint socket.
If you are unnoticed by the syndrome it affects the neuromuscular system & causes the arms or shoulder joints are lose to critical motor skills of the arm.

What is the Diagnosis of levator Scapulae muscle pain?

When you feel severe pain & discomfort in the neck movement must be contacted by to doctor as soon as possible.

The doctor is follow the assessment of the cervical spine to try to reason for the muscle pain.

The first doctor asks you to question you about muscle pain & try to reason or cause of the muscle pain.
In the observation, the part observes swelling & any color changes in the muscle pain.
In the palpation, part palpates to swelling & spasms.
The examination, part examines to ROM & strengthing of the muscle.

After the proper diagnosis, the doctor advises to you treatment of the muscle depending on your condition.

What is the Treatment of the levator scapulae muscle pain?

RICE principle:

In the first stage of the pain means in the starting phase of the muscle pain doctor is advised to you follow the RICE principle.

R – rest = When you feel pain in the neck movement must do the rest for somedays & use a thin pillow for support, you must be kept & maintain the neck in a neutral position during the use computer, mobile & watching TV.rest is help to you for release to stress & overload on the muscle.
I – Ice = You can apply to ice the area of pain for 20 minutes release to of pain & swellings, you can also be used to ice pack & frozen peas on the area of pain but must be put to layer between to skin & ice & check the redness of the skin.
C- compression = Also applied to compression bandage on the area of pain for release to pain & swellings.
E- elevation = Elevation is not possible for this muscle because if do the elevation may produce pain in the neck.

Pain medication:

When you feel the pain you take to an anti-inflammatory drug means a pain relief drug that reduces pain as a home treatment & starting phase of treatment.
For the anti-inflammatory drug mainly NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, and diclofenac like many drugs but depends on the severity of the pain.
You are also applied volini gel & dicfenac gel on the area of pain for the release of pain

What is physiotherapy treatment of the levator scapulae muscle pain?

The physiotherapy treatment includes massage, electrotherapy, stretching & exercise, it helps to reduce the pain & swelling.

Massage:

Massage is applied to the tender points & trigger points of the muscle pain.
Massage is applied with the help of the oil & powder to the area of pain.
It is applied for 5 minutes.
This massage helps you release pain & swelling.

Electrotherapy treatment :

The electrotherapy treatment includes SWD, TENS, IFT, and the US which is help to you for releasing the pain& swelling.

To release the tender & trigger points therapist is applied US = ultrasound therapy on the area of tender pain.
To release the pain & swelling therapist is applied SWD = short wave diathermy, IFT & TENS machine on the area of pain.
This machine is applied for 10 minutes to the area of pain.

Stretching :

This stretching helps you to release the tightness & spasms of the muscle.

levator scapulae muscle simple stretching
neck Flexion Stretch
Lateral Neck Flexion Stretch
Cat-Back Stretch

Levator scapulae muscle simple stretching:

The patient is Sitting up straight with both hands at the sides.
Then Raise the right arm forwards & reach over the back with the hand is grasping the right shoulder blade & applying downward pressure.
While keeping everything else till, then rotate the head to the left about to 45 degrees, which is about the halfway toward the shoulder joint.
Then Tilt the chin downward till you feel a good stretch is on the back which is the right side of the neck.
For an increase to stretch, the left hand is brought up to the back of the head which is gently pulled down a little more.
Hold this stretching for 30 to 60 seconds.
Repeat this exercise on the other side.

Neck Flexion Stretch:

This stretching is Start with a neutral position, chin elevated & shoulders dropped.
Then Slowly drop the head forward by the bringing the chin toward the chest
Patient is feel a gentle tension up the back of the neck
To increase the stretch, bring the arm over the head, grasp the back of the head with the hand & gently pull the head from behind Rotate the head to the right so that the chin is pointing in the direction of the right knee joint.
Drop the chin down toward the knee.
Then Apply gentle pressure to the back of the head with the right hand.
The patient feels a gentle tension on the side of the back of the neck.
For Increase the stretch by placing the left arm behind the back & toward the right hip joint.

Lateral Neck Flexion Stretch:

The patient is sitting or standing with the head in a neutral position.
Keep the chin elevated & drop the shoulder joint.
Then Slowly drop the right ear towards the right shoulder joint,
Must be careful with the thing not to lift the left shoulder
Patient feels a gentle tension on the side of the neck
To increase the stretch, bring the right arm up & over the head.
Grasp the left side of the head & gently pull it toward the right shoulder joint.

Cat-Back Stretch (Cervical Spine Extention):

The patient is in a Kneeling position on hands & knees are in a relaxed position
Arch the back, relax the muscles in the neck & gently let the head drop.
Then Reverse the pose & flatten the back or raise the head to look up at the ceiling
Hold for a few seconds & repeat this stretching 3 times.

Exercise :

Exercise helps to relieve the pain & strengthen the muscle means a decrease in weakness.

Shoulder Shrug exercise
Head Rolls exercise
Head Swings

Shoulder Shrug exercise (Scapular Elevation):

The patient is sitting/standing with the head in a neutral position.
Must be Keep the chin elevated & drop the shoulders.
Do the Shrug & raise the shoulder joint towards the ears.
Must be ensured that you do not roll the shoulder joint forward.
Hold this exercise for a few seconds, then drop the shoulder joint into starting position.
Then Repeat this exercise many times.

Head Rolls exercise = Cervical Spine Rotation:

The patient is sitting/standing with the head in a neutral position.
Must be Kept the chin in an elevated position or dropped the shoulder joint.
Then Slowly & gently roll the head in a clockwise circle three times.
Repeat this exercise in the opposite direction

Head Swings:

The patient is sitting/standing with the head in a neutral position.
Must be Keep the chin elevated & drop the shoulder joint
Then Slowly drop the head toward the chest & then gently roll the right ear to the right shoulder
Bring the head back to the neutral position.
Repeat this exercise on the other side

Strengthening exercise :

This exercise is done with the weight so this exercise is helpful to you for reducing the weakness.

Dumbbell Shrugs
Lateral Raises

Dumbbell Shrugs:

For this exercise, the patient is to stand with the feet shoulder-width apart.
Then Hold one dumbbell in each hand.
Pull the shoulder joint up towards the ears.
Complete the three sets of 15 repetitions & 2 times in 1 week.

Lateral Raises:

The patient is Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart.
Then holding a dumbbell in each hand.
Raise the arm laterally till the elbow joint is at the same level as the shoulder joint, then lower to dumbbells.
Complete the three sets of 15 repetitions & 2 times in 1 week.