The suboccipital muscles in the upper part of the neck are small but mighty. They are four deep muscles that can pack a lot of punch. Less than ideal postural habits can lead to the development of tight suboccipital muscles. When we sit at a desk working on a computer all day, many of us can end up in a posture that is called “forward head posture.” The shoulders and upper back get rounded forward, and our head and chin can protrude. This type of position places a lot of extra stress on neck muscles and joints. With a forward head position, the cervical spine gets put into an extended position and forces our neck muscles to work harder than they were designed to do. This can lead to pain and stiffness in the suboccipital muscles, which can lead to headaches. Good news though. Your massage therapist can help!
