The cervical-collar zone includes the upper spine, muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle. This area is constantly exposed to static loads. An inactive lifestyle contributes to swelling, pinching, and congestion, which provokes circulatory failure in the brain and causes oxygen deficiency.
As a result, such negative factors in this area lead not only to muscle pain, but also to headaches, as well as other unpleasant phenomena:
- dizziness,
- ailments,
- deterioration of coordination,
- nausea,
- floaters before eyes,
- visual and speech impairment,
- increased fatigue and decreased mood.
A simple massage of this area can relieve discomfort associated with tension in the cervical-collar area. Moreover, sometimes, to get rid of discomfort, it is enough to perform self-massage.
However, pain in the cervical-collar area can be associated with pathological processes, for example, various diseases of the spine or blood vessels.
Before performing a massage, you should consult a doctor; perhaps he will prescribe a therapeutic massage option.
The effect of massage of the cervical-collar area
Massage of the cervical-collar area as a whole has a healing effect on the body, increases vitality and has many other positive effects.
Massage normalizes blood circulation, improves metabolic processes, and removes congestion.
With its help, you can quickly relieve accumulated fatigue and tension in the muscles of the shoulder girdle and neck, increase their elasticity and normalize tone. The massage effect is noted to be an increase in efficiency, the return of full sleep, and it is also an excellent prevention of many diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
However, despite the simple technique of performing massage of the cervical-collar area, the positive effect of the impact directly depends on the accuracy and professionalism of the massage therapist. Therefore, when performing self-massage, you should be very careful and if you experience the slightest discomfort, you should stop working on this area yourself and consult a doctor.
The therapeutic option of massage is prescribed not only to adults, but also to children. Thanks to massage, the child’s attention and memory improves, muscles relax and excess stress is removed from the growing body.
Also, the effects of massage of the cervical-collar area include the following factors:
- stimulation of muscle work in the cervical-collar area;
- posture correction;
- normalization of breathing and blood microcirculation;
- elimination of congestion in this area of the body;
- eliminating pain from lactic acid after sports training;
- general relaxing effect;
- improving the functioning of internal organs.
In general, after a massage, there is an increase in a person’s overall ability to work, since reflexogenic points are located in the cervical-collar area.
Vision also improves in the same way, since the nerve endings associated with the organs of vision are located in the cervical region.
Massage of the cervical-collar area, according to indications, can be performed using mechanical and electromechanical devices
In addition, the cosmetic benefits of the procedure are important for women. As a result of targeted impact on the skin, its elasticity increases and the thickness of the fat layer decreases. Most often, massage is done manually; it can be performed at home. To do this, you only need a flat, soft surface, a sofa or bed.
The benefits of different types of massage
Popular types of massage and their benefits:
- Therapeutic back massage.
One of the most popular massages that helps eliminate many diseases and pathological conditions - from lower back pain and pinched nerve roots to intervertebral hernias and post-stroke conditions. - Lymphatic drainage body massage.
It belongs to therapeutic massages and brings a powerful healing effect to the entire body, improves immunity, restores sound sleep, and relieves swelling. - Manual modeling.
Improves skin quality, eliminates fat deposits. - Sports.
Helps prepare the body, especially during intense physical activity, increases endurance, relieves pain, and reduces the risk of injury. - Face massage.
Tightens and moisturizes the skin, restores freshness and youth to the face, removes creases and wrinkles
The effectiveness of a massage is determined by three elements: tempo, strength and duration, which are selected strictly individually. Some types of massage can be combined to get the maximum effect.
Indications for massage of the cervical-collar area
Massage is indicated for the following diseases and conditions of the body:
- fatigue, tension after a working day, stress, insomnia;
- spasm and tension in the muscles of the neck and back (trapezius, deltoid);
- long-term static load on the cervical spine, physical load on the shoulder and neck area;
- headache, dizziness;
- prevention of neuralgic diseases of the hypo- or hypersthenic type;
- plexitis and neuritis - inflammatory pathologies of the nerves;
- slight increase in blood pressure;
- diseases of the cervical spine - osteochondrosis, chondrosis, arthrosis, scoliosis and others;
- rehabilitation after injuries, bruises and fractures, strokes and heart attacks (as prescribed by a doctor);
- poor posture, deformation of the spinal column;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, colitis);
- some diseases of the respiratory system (emphysema, bronchial asthma).
Separately, it should be noted that daily self-massage in the cervical-collar area is very useful for those who experience high visual stress. Massage can be carried out in a course for both therapeutic and preventive purposes.
In general, massage of the cervical-collar area is recommended for all people, since this area is exposed to stress every day.
Therapeutic effect
Massage therapists perform physiological effects on specific segments of the body. It is also used in the fight against osteochondrosis. Systematic modernization of massage techniques increases the potential chance of rapid rehabilitation after illness.
Stroking is performed with the palms, but other options are also possible. Deep stroking is carried out with one palm, while the second plays the role of a weight, exerting pressure of various forces on the back surface of the working palm.
Vibration is performed by applying single, rhythmically following blows.
Massage improves blood circulation directly in the affected area, eliminating spasms of muscle tissue in the cervical-dorsal area (pain is reduced, muscle tissue is strengthened).
Contraindications to massage of the cervical-collar area
Despite the great benefits of massage, there are conditions in which it is contraindicated. Therefore, before such a procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Contraindications to massage of the cervical-collar area:
- tumors, severe inflammatory processes or wounds in the neck - fractures, ruptures, bruises;
- infectious diseases in the acute stage, high fever;
- high blood pressure;
- decompensated atherosclerosis;
- respiratory and heart failure;
- decompensation of liver and kidney function;
- instability in the cervical segment of the spine;
- unhealed fracture or unhealed neck injury;
- the presence of herniated intervertebral discs in this segment;
- thrombosis and blood pathologies with dysfunction of the hemostasis system (hemophilia);
- osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis;
- skin diseases in this area, chronic dermatoses.
Massage of the cervical-collar area of a pregnant woman can only be carried out according to a doctor’s indications. Before the session, the massage therapist should be warned about your pregnancy.
Acupressure and its principles
Acupressure (acupressure, shiatsu) can be classified as self-massage, but it is still a whole area of physiotherapy that requires detailed consideration. Official medicine classifies acupressure as reflexology. That’s how it is: by influencing biologically active points on the body, you can achieve relaxation in distant areas of the body or even the entire nervous system.
Acupressure is performed with the pad of any finger. You must first gently press on the point of influence, then make circular movements, increasing the pressure and pressing your finger into the body. The duration of exposure to one point is 2-3 minutes. The beauty of acupressure self-massage is that a person can independently control the force of pressure and avoid painful sensations. And to perform it you don’t need any special preparations: you can even wake up at night, realize that you can’t fall asleep again, remember which points to massage for insomnia, and have a short relaxation session.
Urgent acupressure
It is carried out directly 5-15 minutes before bedtime and does not take much time. These are just 5 points that are easy to remember.
- On the bridge of the nose between the eyebrows.
- On the top of the head.
- Below the chest line, in the middle of the sternum.
- On the wrist, closer to the little finger and to the beginning of the palm.
- Above the knee joint, on the inside.
It is better to massage these sleep points in case of insomnia in a lying or semi-sitting position. At the same time, you cannot resist the urge to fall asleep. If sleep comes even at the 2nd or 3rd point, you need to slowly stop the acupressure and relax.
If during acupressure massage unpleasant or painful sensations occur, the pulse quickens, sweating begins, you should stop the manipulations.
Massage of individual areas
Reflexology is widespread in China, where this direction is developing. And over many centuries, several different acupressure techniques for insomnia have appeared there.
Foot
Yun Quan. The point is located on the foot. To find it, you need to squeeze your toes and look at the metatarsus. There will be a depression in the middle. This is the massage point for insomnia Yun Quan. It needs to be massaged according to all the rules of acupressure.
Back
A more serious Chinese technique for saving insomnia is hijam. This is both a massage and cleansing the body of toxins through the blood. Hijam involves bleeding on the back and extracting blood using vacuum cups. This is a very serious procedure that is performed only by specialists. There is an effect both from one hijama and from the course.
Neck
An Mian points (translated from ancient Chinese as “soft sleep”) are located in the recesses behind the ears. If you massage them for 5-10 minutes, insomnia goes away. You can also act on these points simply for general relaxation.
Thumb
According to the method of su-jok therapy for insomnia, you need to put an elastic band on the extreme phalanx of the thumb of either hand. It should tighten significantly, but not too much, so as not to impede the flow of blood. It is believed that such continuous pressure on this point can cause relaxation and speed up sleep.
Acupuncture
The same as acupressure, only the effect is performed not with soft fingertips, but with sharp needles. Acupuncture comes from Chinese medicine and is still used there today as one of the most common methods of treating a wide variety of diseases and illnesses.
But if acupressure allows you to perform self-massage, then acupuncture techniques are only subject to specialists. Still, the skin is pierced with needles, so only a doctor should do this. There are many more acupuncture points for insomnia, and an acupuncturist knows not only their location, but can also assess the depth of insertion of the tip.
How is massage of the cervical-collar area performed?
There are a variety of massage techniques for the cervical-collar area. The differences depend on the specialist who performs it, as well as on the purpose of the procedure. Sometimes it is combined with cupping and is carried out with an additional vacuum effect. Classic massage of this area involves several muscles: trapezius, deltoid, vertebral, as well as the shoulder girdle area, shoulder joint and cervicocranial joint.
Before the massage session, the patient is positioned correctly.
You can place the patient on a couch or sit on a chair, but in a sitting position, you need to find support for the head - the forehead should rest on a pillow on the table or on folded palms.
Massage technique step by step
A step-by-step algorithm for manual massage of the cervical-collar area consists of alternating several techniques in a certain sequence: stroking, rubbing, kneading, rubbing again, vibration and finally stroking again.
- The beginning and end of the entire procedure - stroking - is performed with two palms from top to bottom of the neck. The hands are held so that the thumbs are located on the cervical vertebrae.
- A technique such as rubbing is aimed at warming up the muscles and joints, improving metabolism and blood supply in the cervical-collar area. Rubbing is almost always done with two hands and sometimes with the pads of the fingers.
- The main and most effective massage technique is kneading. It is carried out with one or two palms. The intensity of exposure should be increased gradually, avoiding discomfort and pain. Kneading takes up about 60% of the session time.
- When vibrating, movements are rhythmic, intermittent or constant, performed with fists or palms, pain is also not allowed.
Apart from the last vibration effect, you can do all the other techniques yourself.
The entire procedure for a good massage usually lasts about 20 minutes. Some parts of the cervical-collar area may be a little more sensitive, so the patient always needs to inform the master about his sensations and well-being so that he can increase the intensity and load during the session correctly and in the right place.
After completing the massage, you should not make sudden movements for several minutes; you need to lie down calmly and relaxed and avoid cooling the treated cervical-collar area.
Why does massage help? Mechanism of action
The effect of massage on muscles is limited not only by the mechanical factor, it is also complemented by other, no less important reasons.
Types of beneficial effects:
- Humoral (“liquid”) factor. Under the influence, capillary permeability improves, cells are saturated with oxygen through a current that passes through blood vessels and lymph. During a massage session, hormones and neurotransmitters, including endorphins, enter the bloodstream.
- Mechanical influence. Even superficial contact with the hands of a specialist increases metabolic processes and leads to relaxation or increased tone of the body (depending on the techniques used). The mechanical factor associated with kneading muscles and stretching the skin increases tissue elasticity, clears dead epidermal cells, increases joint mobility and eliminates congestion.
- Nervous reflex reaction. Irritation of CNS receptors leads to restoration of the vegetative-vascular system, which improves the condition of patients with somatic and mental illnesses. If you combine several massage techniques, you can influence the state of the muscular system in different ways: with spasms, reduce muscle tone, and with paresis, prevent its atrophy.
Medical fact: massage has a beneficial effect on the parasympathetic nervous system
The speed of recovery of the body during rest depends on its condition. After the course of treatment, all systemic processes in the body proceed correctly
