09/10/2022
"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle."
Sharing a case study of a patient who approached with severe neck and shoulder pain. Goal was not just to treat her pain but give sustained results and prevention of recurrence through graded strengthening exercises using theraband,resistance tube, ankle/wrist weights etc.
Trapezitis is an inflammation caused in the trapezius muscles which further leads to pain and spasm in the neck. It is increasingly becoming common among people working at desk, using computers, mobile phones and also those who use their neck and back muscles a lot.
Common causes of Trapezitis include:
•Working for a long period on desktop or Bad posture
•Driving for long distances.
•Watching television in the same or an awkward posture for a long time.
•Weak muscles of neck and back
•Faulty sleeping posture
Goals of Physiotherapy:
•To reduce inflammation and pain through advanced modalities
•To reduce tightness through stretching and MET techniques
• Increase strength and stability through resisted exercises
• Postural correction
• Patient education through Lifestyle modification
Making lifestyle changes to help in prevention:
•Good posture will help take some of the strain off your trapezius muscles.
•Sit and stand up straight during the day. As you do, bring your shoulders down, and make sure your head is back. Imagine a string is lifting your body, keeping you upright.
•Avoid activities that make you hunch one or both shoulders, like holding a phone in one shoulder.
•Avoid carrying a heavy backpack or shoulder bag. A heavy bag can strain your trapezius muscles.
•Elevate your electronics so you don't slump over. Slumping over can cause soreness in your trapezius muscles, and if you're on your smartphone or computer, you may find yourself slumping a lot. To fix the issue, move the device so it's eye level. That may mean that you're holding your smartphone up in front of you, but that's better than slumping over.
•If you work at a desk, try getting an elevated stand for your screen or laptop to bring it up to eye level or higher.
•Adjust your keyboard and armrests to the correct height. Work in a chair with armrests.
