Diseases/Symptoms
A paralysis of the trapezius muscle leads to the muscle being shifted forward and downward. This leads to the image of the so-called scapula alata, the wing-like protruding shoulder blade. The shoulder on the affected side is lowered, which prevents the shoulders from lifting.
Furthermore, the arm can no longer be lifted above the horizontal of 90°. Injuries to the muscle are rare, but nevertheless occur occasionally during sports involving movements of the shoulder joint. Pain in the area of the musculus trapezius usually manifests itself in the form of tension in the neck muscles.
The musculus trapezius has a special position as a so-called myofascial trigger point. In this form of a circumscribed hardening of a muscle part, pain can be transmitted to other parts of the body. The pain is transmitted by the trapezius muscle mainly to the temporal and occipital region.
The main cause of functional disorders in the area of the trapezius muscle is due to incorrect strain on the muscle. The complaints are often caused by poor posture, for example at the workplace, by sitting at a desk for hours with the upper body raised, or by incorrect training of the musculus trapezius during sports. Due to these incorrect postures, the musculus trapezius tends to shorten and overstretch.
Stress of any kind can also be a possible cause for tension in the area of the musculus trapezius. In addition, injuries of varying degrees (accident, operation, etc.) as well as the relieving posture of the body, which is usually taken in case of pain, can cause injury, functional disorders of the musculus trapezius. More rarely, spinal column diseases are the cause, which lead to a deformation of the spinal column in the area of the musculus trapezius or the so-called cervical spine syndrome, in which complaints with cause in the area of the cervical spine occur.
Stretching/training
The musculus trapezius is mainly trained in the area of weight training and bodybuilding. However, the training of the musculus trapezius is also suitable to relieve pain in the area of the spine. However, a completely isolated training of the musculus trapezius is mostly not possible. Popular training exercises are, for example, the so-called “Reverse Flys”, in which dumbbells are guided along the sides of the body and towards the shoulders while standing, with a straight back and head, or rowing exercises on a cable strap.Neck exercises can be used to stretch and relax the trapezius muscle.
