Michelle Burns – Innovative Treatments for Upper Cross Syndrome: Reduce Pain, Promote Healthy Posture & Restore Functional Movement

Outline

UPPER CROSS SYNDROME (UCS) AND TEXT NECK – ARE THEY THE SAME?

• How does UCS present as opposed to Text Neck?
• Imbalances in the upper extremity that can cause UCS and Text Neck
  • Weakened and shortened muscles
  • Physiology of postural or tonic muscles
  • Physiology of phasic or type 2 muscles
  • Joint involvement
  • Nerve involvement
• 3 easy signs to know if someone has either UCS or Text Neck
  • Additional symptoms
• Cautions and contra-indications to be aware of

HOW TO USE RECIPROCAL INHABITATION TO UNDUE PROGRESSIVE, POOR POSTURE

• 4 simple steps to relax and lengthen locked, short muscles
• 4 simple steps to unlock long muscles

HOW TO ASSESS VARIOUS SYMPTOMS AND RESTORE CLIENT’S MOVEMENT AND POSTURE

• Rotator cuff injury and shoulder pain
  • Trigger Point referral pain
  • Decentration of humeral head
  • Muscle release
  • Stretches
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Acromioclavicular impingement
  • Trigger point referral pain
  • Muscle release
  • Strengthening movements
  • Stretches
• “Sinus” headaches
  • Occipital nerve impingement
  • Trigger point referral pain
  • Muscle release
  • Stretches
• Difficulty swallowing and sore throat
  • Deep cervical flexors
  • Trigger point referral pain
  • Strengthening movements
• Dowager’s hump
  • Compressive forces at transition zones
  • Strengthening movements

Hands-On Lab

• Demonstrate Protocol when faced with UCS
• Sherrington’s Law
• Hilton’s Law
• Locked short muscles
• Locked long muscles
• Prone
• Practice stretches and strengthening movements

IDENTIFY FUNCTIONAL TREATMENT GOALS