The head, neck, cervical, and thoracic regions of the body are extremely susceptible to injury and are a common area of complaint in the massage therapy profession. Injuries to these areas can develop from both chronic conditions and acute trauma. Although traumatic mechanisms of injury, such as automobile accidents, falls, or sports-related activities, are more common, chronic conditions such as repetitive motion injuries and postural misalignments can be just as debilitating. In order to understand how to treat dysfunction in these areas, it is necessary to first understand the anatomy of the region and how it interacts with the rest of the body in a normal capacity.
This chapter reviews the skeletal anatomy of the head and neck and discusses the unique bumps, projections, holes, hills, and valleys of the skeletal structures, all of which perform various functions. In addition, this chapter covers:
Specific bony landmarks that identify important areas for palpation
Soft tissue structures, including the muscles of the region
The movements of the region
Manual muscle tests for the head and neck
Dermatome and trigger-point referral patterns for the involved muscles
At the conclusion of this chapter, the reader will understand:
bony anatomy of the region
how to locate the bony landmarks and soft tissue structures of the region
where to find the muscles and the origins, insertions, and actions of the region
how to assess the movement and determine the range of motion for the region
how to perform manual muscle testing to the region
how to recognize dermatome patterns for the region
trigger-point locations and referral patterns for the region
the following elements of each condition discussed:
background and characteristics
specific questions to ask
what orthopedic tests should be performed
how to treat connective tissue, trigger points, and muscles
flexibility concerns
To learn more about the book this website supports, please visit its Information Center.