Massage Blog

Causes and Pathogenesis

• One of the most common forms of headaches
• Most common in adults and adolescence
• 2 or more times a week for several months it’s considered chronic
• Constriction of neck and scalp muscles
• Muscles involved: Temporalis, Occipitalfrontalis, SCM(sternocliedomastoid), Sub occipitals, Levator Scapula, Masator
• Muscular, tendinous, or ligamentous injury to the head or neck structures
• The ligaments in the neck may be most easily injured
• Muscle tension in the sub occipital triangle or the jaw flexors can cause headaches
  • These are especially vulnerable to the effects of emotional stress
• central nervous system dysfunction
• Active Trigger Points in involved muscles
• Emotional Traumatic experiences
• Continuous/sustained contraction of head and neck muscles
• Inactive muscles causing myofascial restrictions
• Muscle Atrophy in head and neck muscles causing muscle imbalances

Tension type headaches are the most common forms of headaches. These headaches are bilateral with a pressing, nonpulsating feel, lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days. The historical theory has been that tension-type headaches are due to sustained contraction of cervical and pericranial muscles. However, electromyographic (EMG) studies don’t support a muscle contraction mechanism in tension-type headaches. Rather, more and more evidence exists implicating myofascial TrP pain as an etiologic source of pain in these headaches. These myofascial TrP however can be activated by a constant contraction and overuse of the head and neck muscles, in an abnormal position. These positions and activating factors differ between each muscle involved, but send referred pain to the areas that tension-type headaches present.

Affected muscles

• Affected muscles:
  • Temporalis,
  • Occipitalfrontalis,
  • SCM(sternocliedomastoid),
  • Sub occipitals,
  • Splenius Capitis and cervicis
  • Levator Scapula,
  • Masator

For More information about muscles, their attachments and how to treat tension headaches you can get video lessons and deeper anatomy knowledge on muscles etc. at itseasytomassage.com

Josh the Masseur

Learn Massage Online Easily

Interested in Massage? Click here and Get two free Massage Lessons

A Myotherapist can do everything that a remedial massage therapist can do. However, a Myotherapist has an extra year of study usually in advanced techniques and knowledge of human anatomy and pathology, we also have a deeper understanding of TriggerPoints (often referred to as Knots, or a nodule in a taught band of muscle fibres). These trigger points can be stimulated to relax and in turn release the hypertension in the entire muscle.

Myotherapists assess and physically treat myofascial pain, injury and dysfunction affecting movement and mobility. Myotherapy is applied in the preventative, corrective and rehabilitative phases of therapy to restore and maintain the normal integrity of the soft tissue structures (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) of the human body through the use of massage, dry needling, cupping and advice on habitual behaviours.

Myofascial pain is often not specific and is sometimes described as a ‘deep ache’, ‘tightness’ or ‘tenderness’ in an area. It can vary in intensity and radiate or refer to other, uninvolved areas. Other symptoms can include decreased range of motion of muscles and joints, stiffness, fatigue, weakness, numbness or a tingling sensation. There are many other symptoms depending on the condition and sufferers can have more than one symptom.

Josh the Masseur

Learn Massage Online Easily

Interested in Massage? Click here and Get two free Massage Lessons