Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionFunctionPain Relief
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Function
Pain Relief
The levator scapulae or levator scap, are two large superficial muscles that stretch along each side of the spine over your upper back and neck. Their main function is to elevate the shoulder blades and tilt your head from side to side but they also work with other muscles to stabilize the spine.
This article will take you through a detailed description of the levator scapulae, their function, and what to do if you are feeling pain in this muscle.
Levator is from the Latinlevaremeaning “to raise.” The levator scap influences both neck motion and upper back posture. It is involved in several movements of the scapula.
What Is the Levator Scapulae Muscle?
Scapulais another name for the shoulder blade; it is the flat, triangularly shaped bone that sits on top of the upper part of your rib cage.
There are two scapula bones, one on either side of the spine.
The levator scap brings the shoulder blade, or scapula, up, which is a movement that is called elevation. It also rotates the scapula downward.
By pulling upward from the inner corner of the scapula bone towards the outside of the neck, where the levator scap attaches, this muscle indirectly moves the bottom tip of the scapula towards the spine. This is the downward rotation movement mentioned above.
These shoulder blade movements are generally part of the larger movements of flexion and abduction of the shoulder joint. Flexion occurs when you move your arm forward and up toward the ceiling, and abduction occurs when you move your arm out to the side.
During flexion and/or abduction, the levator scap is actively contracting.
Levator scapulae muscle contraction can also move the neck. It participates in side bending, which is called lateral flexion, and rotation, or twisting.
The levator scap originates from thecervical vertebrae one through four(C1 to C4) and attaches to the inside top edge of the scapula.
What Does the Levator Scapulae Muscle Do?
Andrey Popov
Poorly designed work furniture may contribute to chronic muscle tension and spasm, plus muscle weakness.
One of the primary functions of the levator scap is to keep your shoulder blade in a position that supports a vertical alignment of your head on your neck, and toprevent forward head posture, a condition in which your head is too far forward.
To understand what a movable shoulder blade may do to your levator scap, which is assigned to keeping it in the right position on your back, imagine standing on a surfboard in the ocean while holding and using your electronic equipment and other office supplies. In this case, dynamic opposing movements would likely require your muscles and bones to both shift independently and to work together to enable you to type, reach for your cell phone, and manage your balance as the water surges underneath you.
In this and similar, albeit less dramatic, scenarios, the levator scap may not be strong enough to keep the shoulder blade where it’s supposed to be for good head-on-neck posture. Instead, it may become overstretched.
When muscles become overstretched, they often become taut as a way of offering stability. This may feel like muscle tension due to muscle shortening but, it’s different.And the situation may be made worse if youslouch, you don’t have lumbar support, and/or yourdesk or steering wheel is either too high or too low,which may force the shoulder blade into an either upward or downward position.
When muscles become overstretched, they often become taut as a way of offering stability. This may feel like muscle tension due to muscle shortening but, it’s different.
And the situation may be made worse if youslouch, you don’t have lumbar support, and/or yourdesk or steering wheel is either too high or too low,which may force the shoulder blade into an either upward or downward position.
Relieving Pain in the Levator Scapulae Muscle
Chad Springer/Getty Images
A few sessions with a physical therapist may be enough to get you back on track.Treatment might consist of working on muscle strength and flexibility for the levator scap, as well as the other shoulder, neck, and upper back muscles, plus developing better posture habits.
A March 2018 study published in the Journal ofPhysical Therapy Sciencefound that physical therapy exercises—in particular, those that address your upper back posture—may help decrease kyphosis. Kyphosis is often a pre-cursor to forward head posture, a condition mentioned above.
Physical therapy may help you reduce the degree of stress that is placed on the levator. Stretching, strengthening, and posture lessons may also help reduce pain, increase the physical functioning of the upper body, and improve your quality of life in general.
Other tips for avoiding and relieving levator scapulae muscle pain include:
Some stretches to relieve pain include:
Summary
The levator scapulae stretch along the spine across the upper back and neck. They elevate the shoulder blades, tilt the head, and work with other muscles to stabilize the spine. Physical therapy and targeted exercise work well to alleviate pain, especially when combined with some simple lifestyle modifications and other strategies.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chotai PN, Loukas M, Tubbs RS.Unusual origin of the levator scapulae muscle from mastoid process. Surg Radiol Anat. 2015;37(10):1277-81. doi:+10.1007/s00276-015-1508-6Yoo WG.Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018;30(3):411-412. doi:10.1589/jpts.30.411Additional ReadingWheeless, C. “Levator Scapula.“Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics.Nunley, J. and Urbaniak, J. eds. Durham, North Caroline: Duke Orthopaedics; 2016.Yoo, W.Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position. J Phys Ther Sci. March 2018.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chotai PN, Loukas M, Tubbs RS.Unusual origin of the levator scapulae muscle from mastoid process. Surg Radiol Anat. 2015;37(10):1277-81. doi:+10.1007/s00276-015-1508-6Yoo WG.Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018;30(3):411-412. doi:10.1589/jpts.30.411Additional ReadingWheeless, C. “Levator Scapula.“Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics.Nunley, J. and Urbaniak, J. eds. Durham, North Caroline: Duke Orthopaedics; 2016.Yoo, W.Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position. J Phys Ther Sci. March 2018.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Chotai PN, Loukas M, Tubbs RS.Unusual origin of the levator scapulae muscle from mastoid process. Surg Radiol Anat. 2015;37(10):1277-81. doi:+10.1007/s00276-015-1508-6Yoo WG.Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018;30(3):411-412. doi:10.1589/jpts.30.411
Chotai PN, Loukas M, Tubbs RS.Unusual origin of the levator scapulae muscle from mastoid process. Surg Radiol Anat. 2015;37(10):1277-81. doi:+10.1007/s00276-015-1508-6
Yoo WG.Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018;30(3):411-412. doi:10.1589/jpts.30.411
Wheeless, C. “Levator Scapula.“Wheeless Textbook of Orthopaedics.Nunley, J. and Urbaniak, J. eds. Durham, North Caroline: Duke Orthopaedics; 2016.Yoo, W.Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position. J Phys Ther Sci. March 2018.
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