Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFacts About the MusclePain SymptomsTension CausesRelieving PainSelf-CarePractitioners to See
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Facts About the Muscle
Pain Symptoms
Tension Causes
Relieving Pain
Self-Care
Practitioners to See
Semispinalis capitismuscle pain can occur when someone has an injury or overuses this set ofmusclesfound in the back of the neck. The muscles connect the base of the skull to the upper back. The pain is felt in the neck and head.
Some of the strategies to relieve pain includestretchingand dry needling. This article will cover details about the semispinalis capitis muscles, how to relieve pain in that area, and the healthcare providers specializing in that care.
Quick Facts About the Semispinalis Capitis Muscle
The semispinalis capitis muscles are found in the neck. They run from the bottom of the skull, specifically theocciput, and follow down to attach to multiple areas on the cervical andtransverse spinal bones.
These muscles provide neck extension and rotation of the head and neck from side to side. The semispinalis capitis muscles also keep the head balanced on the neck.
Symptoms of Semispinalis Capitis Pain
The semispinalis capitis muscle connects the scalp and spine to control some head movements. With this muscle connecting to the scalp, the symptoms vary more than typical neck pain.
Symptoms of semispinalis capitis pain include:
What Causes Semispinalis Capitis Tension?
Injuries that can cause pain in this area are car accidents,blunt trauma, and falls. Other causes of semispinalis capitis tension arepoor postureand overuse injuries.
How to Relieve Semispinalis Capitis Pain
Stretches
To do this:
Posture Correction
Correct postureaffects overall health and can cause neck and back pain. Modern-day lifestyles frequently involve prolonged sitting. This can lead to people bringing their head and neck out of proper posture.
To maintain proper posture while sitting, ensure the following happens:
Dry Needling
The needles do not inject any medications or substances (hence the term dry needling). A small study in 2022 found that dry needling relieved semispinalis capitis pain. It also improved daily living activities and increased physical therapy outcomes.
Self-Care and Finding Pain Relief At Home
Neck pain can make many activities more difficult. Performing self-care at home can be one way to help minimize the pain and find faster relief. Below are ways to find pain relief at home:
Providers to See for Tight Back-of-Neck Muscles
A few types of healthcare providers can help when you have tight muscles in the back of the neck. The best place to start is with a primary care provider. They can give an evaluation to determine where to refer you.
Summary
The semispinalis capitis muscles control side-to-side and up-and-down movements of the head. Injury or overuse can cause pain that is felt in the head or neck. A primary care provider can evaluate the injury and determine the best treatment plan or refer you to a different practitioner. Treatment can include stretching, correcting posture, and using home therapies like heat and ice.
8 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.Physiopedia.Semispinalis capitis.Rehab My Patient.Semispinalis capitis.Practical Pain Management.Splenius capitis muscle syndrome.Alberta Health.Neck strain or sprain: rehab exercises.Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Good working positions.Dunning J, Butts R, Mourad F, Young I, Flannagan S, Perreault T.Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines.Phys Ther Rev. 2014;19(4):252-265. doi:10.1179/108331913X13844245102034Shah S.Immediate effect of dry needling for semispinalis capitis in a patient with non-specific neck pain- a case report.jmscr. 2022;10(02). doi:10.18535/jmscr/v10i2.05MedlinePlus.Neck pain.
8 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.Physiopedia.Semispinalis capitis.Rehab My Patient.Semispinalis capitis.Practical Pain Management.Splenius capitis muscle syndrome.Alberta Health.Neck strain or sprain: rehab exercises.Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Good working positions.Dunning J, Butts R, Mourad F, Young I, Flannagan S, Perreault T.Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines.Phys Ther Rev. 2014;19(4):252-265. doi:10.1179/108331913X13844245102034Shah S.Immediate effect of dry needling for semispinalis capitis in a patient with non-specific neck pain- a case report.jmscr. 2022;10(02). doi:10.18535/jmscr/v10i2.05MedlinePlus.Neck pain.
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.
Physiopedia.Semispinalis capitis.Rehab My Patient.Semispinalis capitis.Practical Pain Management.Splenius capitis muscle syndrome.Alberta Health.Neck strain or sprain: rehab exercises.Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Good working positions.Dunning J, Butts R, Mourad F, Young I, Flannagan S, Perreault T.Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines.Phys Ther Rev. 2014;19(4):252-265. doi:10.1179/108331913X13844245102034Shah S.Immediate effect of dry needling for semispinalis capitis in a patient with non-specific neck pain- a case report.jmscr. 2022;10(02). doi:10.18535/jmscr/v10i2.05MedlinePlus.Neck pain.
Physiopedia.Semispinalis capitis.
Rehab My Patient.Semispinalis capitis.
Practical Pain Management.Splenius capitis muscle syndrome.
Alberta Health.Neck strain or sprain: rehab exercises.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Good working positions.
Dunning J, Butts R, Mourad F, Young I, Flannagan S, Perreault T.Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines.Phys Ther Rev. 2014;19(4):252-265. doi:10.1179/108331913X13844245102034
Shah S.Immediate effect of dry needling for semispinalis capitis in a patient with non-specific neck pain- a case report.jmscr. 2022;10(02). doi:10.18535/jmscr/v10i2.05
MedlinePlus.Neck pain.
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