| Helping the function of trapezius are the splenius | | | | shoulder blade. It attaches to deltoid tuberosity on |
| capitis and cervicis muscles. These two muscles | | | | the arm bone (humerus). It is supplied by the |
| are commonly injured with whiplash injuries due to | | | | axillary nerve which carries the C5 and C6 spinal |
| car accidents. Pain and spasm in these two | | | | nerve root fibers. |
| muscles lead to tension headaches and significant | | | | The anterior deltoid brings the arm up and |
| neck pain. | | | | forward (flexion), the middle deltoid moves the |
| The person with problems in these two muscles | | | | arm away from the trunk (abduction) and the |
| have difficulty in bending the neck backward. | | | | posterior deltoid brings the arm backward |
| There will also be significant pain on bending the | | | | (extension). |
| neck sideways and also in turning the head to the | | | | It is a powerful muscle in lifting type activities and |
| painful side. Therefore when you see a person | | | | also works constantly when the arm is |
| with difficulty in turning the head and neck to the | | | | outstretched to the front as in writing, typing, |
| left, consider problems with the splenius capitis | | | | driving etc.. |
| and cervicis muscles on the left side and the right | | | | These forward motions of the arm known as |
| trapezius and vice versa. Such a person will usually | | | | shoulder flexion is performed by the contraction |
| have to turn the whole body since they have | | | | of many muscles which are large and powerful |
| difficulty turning the head and neck. They will | | | | such as the pectoralis major, long head of the |
| often complain that they have difficulty in driving | | | | biceps, coracobrachialis and the anterior deltoid. To |
| due to difficulty in neck rotation. | | | | stabilize the flexion movement, the muscles that |
| The splenius capitis (head) muscle arises from the | | | | bring the arm backward (shoulder extension) have |
| last cervical vertebral spine (C7) to the third | | | | to undergo lengthening contraction. Shoulder |
| thoracic spine (T3) and from the ligament | | | | extension is performed by three major muscles, |
| between the spines known as the ligamentum | | | | mainly the latissimus dorsi, teres major and the |
| nuchae to insert into the skull bone behind the | | | | posterior deltoid. |
| earlobe known as the mastoid process. | | | | Pain, spasm and weakness of the poster deltoid is |
| The splenius cervicis (neck) muscle arises from | | | | thus very common especially since C5 and C6 |
| the third thoracic to the sixth thoracic spines | | | | nerve root involvement is also very common. |
| (T3-T6) and inserts into the transverse processes | | | | When the deltoid does not function properly, lifting |
| of the first through the fourth cervical vertebrae | | | | type movements are performed by shrugging the |
| (C1-C4). Both muscles received nerve supply | | | | shoulder, an action of the upper trapezius comes |
| through the middle and lower cervical nerves. | | | | into play by . Since trapezius is not strong enough |
| Neck pain|shoulder pain: Role of deltoid | | | | to perform lifting activities, the trapezius muscle |
| Neck pain and shoulder pain commonly arises | | | | goes into spasm and aggravating the neck and |
| from irritation of the C5 and C6 nerve roots. Both | | | | shoulder pain. |
| roots supply the deltoid muscle. | | | | Therefore pain in the deltoid region cannot be |
| Deltoid has three portions namely the portion at | | | | localized to treating only the deltoid muscle. |
| the front of the shoulder (anterior deltoid), middle | | | | Selective activation using eToims Twitch Relief |
| of the shoulder (middle deltoid) and a portion at | | | | method must include all muscles involved in |
| the back of the shoulder (posterior deltoid). It | | | | lengthening contraction supplied by the C5-C7 |
| arises from the front of the outer third of the | | | | nerve roots and the entire length of the paraspinal |
| collar bone, the acromion and the spine of the | | | | muscles from the neck to the base of the spine. |