Stretches for Your Neck--Suboccipital Stretch

The subocciptial muscles are a group of muscles known as the "headache muscles." The suboccipital muscles are a group of muscles that include the rectis capitus posterior major and minor and the obliquus capitus superior and inferior. When these muscles get tight, they can refer pain from the back of your head to your temples. Three out of the four of these muscles start at the back of your head and attach to the upper vertebrae in your neck. These are not the easiest muscles to stretch because they are so small.

If you feel a headache starting, sometimes it helps to press the 2 bumps at the back of your head that these muscle attach to for 60 seconds with your index fingers. This may help to relieve the headache.

I found a good pic of the suboccipital muscles from www.thiemeteachingassistant.com.

How to stretch the suboccipital muscles:

1.) Sit down with good posture.

2.) Tuck your chin down into your neck.

3.) Find the 2 bumps on the back of your head and touch them with your fingers.

4.)Push up towards the ceiling.

5.) Hold for 20 seconds.

Pleased stay tuned for my next Blog to learn how to stretch a muscle that strarts behind your ear and ends up at the front of your chest.

Please visit http://www.drsusancarter.com/ for more information.