Everything You Need to Know About Trapezius Muscle Strain and How to Treat It
Trapezius muscle strain is an injury to the muscle that connects your shoulder blades to your upper back. It can be mild or severe.
Often, trapezius injuries result from overuse or chronic injury. These can happen from doing repetitive movements or even carrying something heavy for long periods of time.
What is Trapezius Muscle Strain and What Causes It
The trapezius is a group of muscles that spans the upper back, shoulders and neck. When they over-stretch, tendons and fibers within the muscle tear. This can cause pain, stiffness and a reduced range of motion in your shoulders and arms.
The symptoms of a strain depend on which part of the muscle is injured. They include pain and tenderness, swelling and bruising.
This type of strain usually happens suddenly, such as from a hard fall or a collision with another person. It may also occur from repetitive activities, such as lifting weights or playing contact sports for long periods of time.
Physical therapy can help you recover from a trapezius strain. It can also help you prevent future strains by strengthening the muscle and improving posture.
When you develop a strain, it is best to rest the area and get treated as soon as possible. You should also ice the injury to reduce inflammation and stop oxidative stress.
In addition, you should make postural changes to help break the cycle of poor head posture that causes tightness in the upper …