This second blog in our series on the body features the work of Dr. Ben Benjamin, founder of the Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge, MA. We have both taken his advanced medical massage for ligaments classes for lower back and spine injures and more recently, how to treat neck injuries such as whiplash. We highly recommend Dr. Benjamin’s techniques and use them frequently on our clients that have loose or torn ligaments, with great success.
When it comes to headaches, research shows that most stem from a dysfunction in your cervical (upper neck) alignment, usually in vertebral numbers 1, 2 and 3. While issues like numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers and/or shoulder pain tend to originate with injuries to cervical vertebrae 4, 5 and 6. Ligaments in these areas are also the most common cause of chronic neck pain, especially at # 5. Because of it’s location within the curve of the neck, it becomes the most vulnerable to injury or impediment.
Within the network of the spine, issues within the muscles are the most frequent cause of immediate, temporary pain, while disc injuries are more infrequent but longer lasting.
Dr. Benjamin’s ligament work addresses the tension between and next to each vertebra, bringing a greater amount of relief to clients. We invite you to come and experience the relief this kind of bodywork can bring.
The following video employs the use of a block especially designed to release muscles at the base of the head.
It’s important to note that neck pain can be most frequently triggered by:
1. Over stretching the neck
2. Body use on the job
3. Lack of exercise
4. Poor body mechanics
The clip shown here is a series of stretches designed to help strengthen and loosen the neck muscles that we find helpful in instructing our patients.
