Tara Levesque, RMT

06/11/2025

I had a spot open up tomorrow morning for 930am if anyone wants it. DM me 🙂

02/26/2023

I just want to remind my clients that as of Wednesday, March 1st, we will be in the new location at 221 Main street. The new building beside shoppers. See you guys there! 🥰

02/02/2023

Your pelvis helps you walk, run, and lift weight off the ground. It also contributes to proper posture.

An anterior pelvic tilt is when your pelvis is rotated forward, which forces your spine to curve. It’s often caused by excessive sitting without enough exercise and stretching to counteract the effects of sitting all day. If you have an anterior pelvic tilt you may notice that the muscles in the front of your pelvis and thighs are tight, while the ones in the back are weak. Your gluteus and abdominal muscles may also be weak. All of this can cause:

▪︎lower back pain
▪︎hip and knee pain
▪︎incorrect posture
▪︎forced hip and knee rotations

If you have an anterior pelvic tilt you will notice that the muscles in the front of your thighs are tight and the ones in the back are weak.

09/03/2022

🔈 LEVATOR SCAPULAE MUSCLE RELATED NECK PAIN

The Levator Scapulae muscles are located on either side of the neck. They originate on the four upper vertebrae of the cervical spine (neck) and insert, or attach, to the scapula, also known as the shoulder blade at the superior, medial border. These two muscles are involved in elevation, downward rotation and abduction of the scapulae. They are also involved in flexion and extension of the cervical spine(neck), turning of the neck slightly left and right, along with side bending of the neck left and right.

When you wake up in the morning with a crick in your neck, feel a burning pain on the top inner corner of your shoulder blade, or have trouble turning your head to look behind you while driving etc., the culprit may be a Levator Scapula muscle in spasm. The pain can be described as a throbbing, ache, or tightness, and usually presents from the top inner corner of the shoulder blade up along the neck.

🔒 What Causes Levator Scapula Spasm / Trigger Points?

A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in that area and/or other parts of the body. The trigger points are shown above as two dark red circles, with the pain referral area also shaded in. Muscle spasm is a tightening of a muscle usually, due to overuse or overstress. It can in itself cause pain and loss of mobility. The following events and activities are likely to activate, or reactivate, tension / pain and trigger points in the levator scapulae.

- whiplash from an automobile accident
- sleeping on the stomach with the head turned/or sleeping in an odd position
- chilling of the muscle during sleep from an air conditioner or draft from an open window
- working at a computer with the head turned for long periods
- holding a phone between the shoulder and ear
- carrying a heavy bag with a shoulder strap
- use of crutches that are too tall and elevate the shoulder
- emotional and mental stress
- Working with your arms raised above your head for prolonged periods of time can also irritate the Levator Scapula. To help reduce neck pain, stabilize your shoulder blade when you raise your arm.
- poor posture with a forward head position puts this muscle under continuous strain causing overuse.

Usually the condition settles after a few days if it is only a once off. Proper hands-on deep tissue massage and dry needling, when used together, can be great to settle the condition either in the short term, or if the condition has become more chronic. Also for the long term, correcting posture, stretching and strengthening of the upper back(particularly middle / lower traps, serratus posterior, rhomboids etc.) and the neck muscles(specifically the posterior neck muscles) can help prevent the condition from returning.

Posture is key to a healthy neck and spine. Try and sit up straight on a comfortable supportive chair, when at work or at home, allowing the shoulders to relax by using the arm rests of the chair. When at a computer, pull the screen close and try to get it up to eye level (say using books underneath it), so your head doesn’t have to be coming forward. The same applies when driving a car. Pull the seat in close to the steering wheel(within reason),and try to position yourself so the shoulders are relaxed and the head isn’t jutting forward. Activities like reading in bed, playing computer games for hours etc. can really tighten up the levator muscles and are a disaster for thoracic and cervical posture in the long term.

06/10/2022

🔈 IMPROVE YOUR HIP MOBILITY

The hip joint is also known as a ball and a socket joint. It is where the top of the thigh meets the pelvis. There are certain health conditions such as arthritis, limit the range of motion of the hip joint. Also, strenuous exercise, wearing high heels, and certain leg and back injuries can have a similar effect on this joint. All this affect the motility. However, certain exercises that can help loosen the soft tissue and improve the flexibility and mobility in the hip area are of great help.

The following moves will mobilize the hip flexors, the hip extensors and the hip rotators, all of which contribute to pain-free function and improved athleticism.

Try these exercises postworkout or pre-bedtime for better movement in and out of the gym.

🔒 Hip-Flexor Stretch

1. Stand inside a doorway and turn to face the door frame on your right.
2. Step back with your left foot and place your knee and lower leg on the floor to the left of the wall behind you (place a pad under your left knee if necessary).
3. Slide your left leg backward along the wall until you feel a stretch in the front on your left hip.
4. Raise your chest and torso and extend your arms overhead.
5. Grab the doorjamb behind you and slide your arms as far overhead as possible.
6. Press your lower back toward the doorjamb and hold it there for the duration of the stretch.
7. Breathe deeply, hold for one to two minutes, and repeat on the other side.

🔒 Flex-and-Rotate Hip Stretch

1. Stand facing a thigh-high table, desk, high bench, or the armrest of a couch.
2. Bend your right knee and raise your leg to rest your shin on the table, as if you’re doing a modified pigeon-pose stretch.
3. Bend your torso directly forward over your leg.
4. Press your elevated leg into the table for a five-count, then release for a 10-count, moving more deeply into the stretch. Contract and release five times.
5. Repeat the stretch with your torso rotated gently to the left, and again rotated to the right. Keep your back neutral and avoid rounding forward.
6. Slowly come out of the stretch.
7. Repeat the entire sequence with your left leg on the table.

It is not necessary that everyone can pull up the exercise with ease. It will take time for some, while a few might experience pain and stiffness in the muscles in the beginning. In any case, if the pain persists for long do not delay getting an advice from the health professional. For those with known joint and muscle problems or previous injuries and pain, it is better to seek medical advice before beginning with any exercises.

06/10/2022

A Sneak Peek of the New Video

06/07/2022

🔈 HEADACHES AND MYODURAL BRIDGES

• Recent anatomical studies have found that the deep suboccipital (top of the neck) muscles are connected to the dura matter (the covering of the spinal cord) by ligaments.
• Pulling on a suboccipital muscle moves the dura matter, in cadavers.
• The suboccipital muscles often atrophy (waste away) in headache sufferers.

Can headaches be affected by using Active Release Techniques (ART) on the the suboccipital muscles: superior oblique, inferior oblique, re**us capitis posterior major and minor? The suboccipital muscles are important little muscles which control fine neuromuscular control of the head.

Recent studies have added to our knowledge of the possible connections between headaches and the myodural bridges:

Enix et al did microscopic evaluations to confirm that ligaments called the myodural bridges emanate from the suboccipital muscle bellies, and attach to the dura mater in 75% of specimens. These myodural bridges have a hypothetical role in human homeostasis, and they may contribute to certain neuropathological conditions as well. The presence of a neural component within the myodural bridges suggests that they may serve another function aside from simply anchoring the muscles to the dura mater. Such a connection may be involved in monitoring dural tension and may also play a role in certain cervicogenic pathologies (neck pain and headaches).

They noted that manual traction of the re**us major in cadavers resulted in gross dural movement from the spinal root level of the axis (C2) to the spinal root level of the first thoracic vertebra.
Fernández-de-Las-Peñas found that the greater the headache intensity, duration or frequency, the smaller the cross sectional area of the re**us minor and re**us major muscles. He also foundthat there was a correlation between hyper-tenderness and atrophy of the re**us minor. In these cases pressing on the re**us minor reproduced the patient’s headaches.

The re**us minor was also found to have atrophied by Hallgren, in chronic head pain sufferers. He proposed a theory that whiplash could lead to nerve damage which causes the re**us minor to atrophy. His photo in the picture shows the myodural bridge.

ART is a hands-on soft tissue treatment of ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves. It provides a quick way to make a tight muscle loose, as well as treating conditions such as: tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, shoulder tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis. The technique involves the therapist putting pressure on a tissue, while the patient stretches to move the tissue slowly out from under the contact. The treatment hurts a bit, but only in a way that makes the patient know it is working. The technique works by increasing the nervous system’s tolerance to stretch.

06/06/2022

Had a spot open up for 11am tomorrow If anyone wants it
Dm or call 567-2852

05/20/2022

I can't go without my massages 🥰😌

Parenthood can put a strain on the body, from pain when actively playing with your kids to physical symptoms of parental stress. This infographic outlines how massage therapy can help parents continue to actively enjoy parenthood.

This infographic is also available in the RMTAO resource centre: https://rmtao.com/resources/library

03/30/2022

🔈 MUSCLES THAT MAKE UP THE ERECTOR SPINAE

The Erector Spinae muscle actually consists of three columns of muscles, the Iliocostalis, Longissimus, and Spinalis, each running parallel on either outer side of the Vertebra and extending from the lower back of the skull all the way down to the Pelvis.

The Erector Spinae provides resistance that assists in the control action of bending forward at the waist as well as acting as powerful extensors to promote the return of the back to the erect position. During full flexion (i.e., when touching fingertips to floor), the Erector Spinae Muscles are relaxed and strain is borne entirely by ligaments of back, however on the reversal of the movement, the Erector Spinae in conjunction with the Hamstring muscles and Gluteus Maximus muscles (buttocks) is primarily responsible for the extension of the back (straighten the spine) as well as more specific movements such as the extension of the neck and sidewards movement of the head.

The furthest from the Vertebra of all the Erector Spinae muscles the Iliocostalis muscle is chiefly responsible with assisting extension and laterally flex of the vertebral column, maintaining erect posture as well as bending the vertebral column to the same side. The Iliocostalis Muscles origin attachment point is the Lumbosacral Fascia, the inferior 6 ribs (thoracis) and ribs 3 to 6 (cervicis). The insertion attachment points are the angles of ribs 7 to 12 (lumborum and thoracis); transverse processes of cervical C6–C4 (cervicis).

THE LONGISSIMUS DORSI MUSCLES
The Longissimus Dorsi Muscle the longest of the back and is made up of 3 distinct parts, the Capitis, the Cervicis and the Thoracis.

1. The Capitis Muscles are used to hold the head erect as well as rotating toward the same side of the muscle that is contracting. The origin attachment points are from the lateral of the top four and it’s insertion point is mastoid process of the skull.

2. The Cervicis Muscles are responsible for bending the top of the neck and assist in keeping the cervical spine erect. The origin point from narrow tendons from the lateral of the top four and it’s insertion points are from the lateral of the cervical vertebra 2 through till 6.

3. The Thoracis Muscles assists in the motion of backward and sidewards bending, keeping the spine erect and pulling the ribs downward to help with breathing. It’s origin attachment point is from the Lumbosacral Fascia and it’s two insertion points are the transverse processes of the , and laterally the lower nine or ten ribs, just where they begin to curve away from the spine.

THE SPINALIS MUSCLES
The Spinalis muscles are the closest to the Vertebra of all the Erector Spinae muscles and consists of two muscles, the Cervicis and the Thoracis.

1. The Spinalis Cervicis origin points are from the lower ligamentum nuchae: spinous processes of C6 or C7 and the insertion point of attachment is the spinous process of the axis. The Spinalis Cervicis Muscles work closely with the Spinalis Thoracis muscle to extend and laterally flex vertebral column such as when you try to stand tall to increase your height by extending the gap between your.

2. The Spinalis Thoracis origin points are from the inner portion of the Lumbosacral Fascia as well as from the spinous processes of T11 to L2. It’s insertion points are most if not all of the spinous processes of the upper from T2 to T8. The Spinalis Thoracis muscle work closely with the Spinalis Cervicis muscles to extend and laterally flex vertebral column such as when you try to stand tall to increase your height by extending the gap between your.

03/29/2022

🔈 HEADACHE AT THE BACK OF THE HEAD

There are many different types of headaches. One of the more common headaches is the suboccipital headache.

At the base of the skull there is a group of muscles, the suboccipital muscles, which can cause headache pain for many people. These four pairs of muscles are responsible for subtle movements between the skull and first and second vertebrae in the neck.

When the suboccipital muscles go into spasms they can entrap the nerves that travel through the suboccipital region. By compressing the suboccipital nerves they set off a series of events that lead to either a tension or a migraine like headaches.

CAUSES

The suboccipital muscles commonly become tense and tender due to factors such as

- Eye strain, wearing new eyeglasses.
- Sitting at a computer with our head forward and our head slightly tipped these muscles are doing a significant amount of work. This poor posture eventually causes the muscles to become tired, fatigue, and injured.
- Grinding the teeth, slouching posture, and trauma (such as a whiplash injury).

SYMPTOMS

Common signs and symptoms of a headache stemming from the suboccipitals include

- Pain, stiffness, and a dull ache in the upper neck and base of the skull
- Pain on the back of the head, and pain in the forehead and behind the eyes.
- Sometimes there may be visual disturbances or nausea, but those tend to be more common in migraine type headaches.

TREATMENT

People often feel relief when icing, stretching, or rubbing the suboccipital muscles. In the early stages rubbing the suboccipital region can reduce or eliminate a headache.

When the headaches progress often palpating the suboccipital muscles intensifies the headache. Some people feel a tension band or headache that moves towards the eye. When pushing on the suboccipital muscles, it may increase the intensity of eye pain.

Suboccipital headaches are improved with over-the-counter NSAIDs, ice, stretching, therapy, electric, ultrasound, and cold laser treatments. Goals of treatment are to decrease muscle spasms of the suboccipital muscles and trapezius. The poor posture of slouching forward and tipping the head up causes additional injury and spasms to the trapezius and upper back muscles. Treatment always looks at improving these muscles as well.

Treatment will focus on improving posture when standing and sitting, to relieve stress and strain on the muscles. In addition massage therapy is excellent at decreasing muscle spasms, pain, tenderness, and tension in these muscles. Stretching will be utilized to enhance flexibility. Strengthening exercises will be utilized for the weak muscles of the neck and shoulder complex.

Graston Technique is a very effective tool at decreasing the scar tissue and spasms associated with poor posture, headaches, and suboccipital spasms. Often people with suboccipital headaches have had poor posture for many years, and Graston helps decrease the fascial adhesions and scar tissue from years of poor posture.

03/24/2022

🔈THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a disorder characterized by pain and paresthesias in a hand, the neck, a shoulder, or an arm.
Pathogenesis often involves compression of the lower trunk of the brachial plexus (and perhaps the subclavian vessels) as these structures traverse the thoracic outlet below the scalene muscles and over the 1st rib, before they enter the axilla.

Compression may be caused by:
• A cervical rib
• An abnormal 1st thoracic rib
• Abnormal insertion or position of the scalene muscles
• A malunited clavicle fracture
• Thoracic outlet syndromes are more common among women and usually develop between age 35 and 55.

Symptoms and Signs of TOS
Pain and paresthesias usually begin in the neck or shoulder and extend to the medial aspect of the arm and hand and sometimes to the adjacent anterior chest wall. Many patients have mild to moderate sensory impairment in the C8 to T1 distribution on the painful side; a few have prominent vascular-autonomic changes in the hand (e.g., cyanosis, swelling). In even fewer, the entire affected hand is weak.

Rare complications of thoracic outlet compression syndromes include Raynaud syndrome localized to the affected arm and distal gangrene.

Exercise:
• Pectoralis stretch: Stand in a doorway or corner with both arms on the wall slightly above your head. Slowly lean forward until you feel a stretch in the front of your shoulders. Hold 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

• Thoracic extension: While sitting in a chair, clasp both arms behind your head. Gently arch backward and look up toward the ceiling. Repeat 10 times. Do this several times per day.

• Arm slide on wall: Sit or stand with your back against a wall and your elbows and wrists against the wall. Slowly slide your arms upward as high as you can while keeping your elbows and wrists against the wall. Do 3 sets of 10.

• Rowing exercise: Tie a piece of elastic tubing around an immovable object and grasp the ends in each hand. Keep your forearms vertical and your elbows at shoulder level and bent to 90 degrees. Pull backward on the band and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Repeat 10 times. Do 3 sets.