Neck Pain

I’ve worked with a lot of people who suffer with neck pain and as a result it has become my specialty. Neck pain can be brutal. I know how horrible it feels to endure the burning, electrical discomfort of a pinched nerve, the sharp stiffness of a stiff neck, and the deep icky throb and tingling pain of a neck sprain. Uncomfortable, doesn’t even scratch the surface of what these experiences feel like. They are absolutely horrible.

However, as an eternal optimist and massage therapist I believe the pain and hardships I have endured are beautiful gifts, because it is my firm belief that every hardship we face is an opportunity to learn how to help someone else. When I hurt, I search for ways to alleviate my pain. I have spent countless hours experimenting, practicing, and massaging on myself to find the best ways to relieve my aches. Throughout my career as a massage therapist I researched modern pain science, explored how to treat various types of neck pain, and served as a guide for those who want to live their best life.

Helping people is my purpose, and when you schedule a massage with me you become my only focus. I will ask you questions pertaining to how the pain feels, where it hurts, how often it hurts, and when the intensity is at its highest. This information helps me imagine how you feel, so I may internalize it, and visualize the best approach to address your aches and pains.

When I perform a massage focusing on the neck, I will ask a lot of questions at the start of a session and throughout. Feedback is an essential tool for any massage therapist, but it is especially important in a corrective massage. If at any time throughout your session something hurts or feels wonderful let me know. The goal is for you to feel amazing today, tomorrow and for the rest of the week. Communicating how you feel provides me with valuable information that can help me maximize the results of your massage. I tell my clients that while I may know an array of techniques, you are ultimately the expert of your own body. While I may discover hidden sore spots, you are the arbiter of what feels good and what doesn’t. This information serves as my guide to help provide you with a transformative massage experience, one that can lead you to live your highest quality life.

My approach to reducing neck pain involves imagining your body three-dimensionally. I think about which muscles are tight, overworked and tired, then I visualize the muscles that work in tandem with them. This is important because in many instances massage is like being Sherlock Holmes. We need to take the incident report from you about where the problem is, then investigate the neighborhood and ask questions. These clues are the glue of your story, and they provide me with a foundation to work from.

If you were to describe a pain that ran from your shoulder blade to the base on your head, it may mean that your levator scapula may need some work. If the area between your shoulder blades felt like they were on fire, I would address your rhomboids, and your pectoralis muscle. If you felt a deep achy pain deep inside your shoulder blade it may mean your sub-scap might need some attention. But, knowing this is not enough. Simply jumping in and massaging these pain points alone won’t lead to long lasting relief in your neck or the affected areas.

Sometimes the places we notice the most are not the source of the discomfort. Our body is like a baby, and when something is wrong or uncomfortable the only way a baby knows how to get our attention is by crying. When it feels like our muscles are screaming it is actually our central nervous system. Pain is a warning system, and although it can be quite uncomfortable it is the best method our body has to protect itself. Though these areas might not be the source of the discomfort they must still be addressed, but we can’t just jump in and vigorously massage them. This is a common mistake made by massage therapists. They believe the best way to fight fire is with more fire, and while firm pressure may be the answer, it is not always the answer.

Instead, we need to approach the problem like we were tending to a baby. If the child is crying, we need to first encourage her to calm down. We pick her up from the crib and hold her, singing sweet words into her ear, so she knows safety is near. Once she has relaxed a bit, we start investigating what she needs. Is she hungry, does she need her diaper changed, or did she just have a bad dream? Once we have assessed what she needs, we resolve it, and then love on her again.

My approach to neck pain begins by addressing your autonomic nervous system. I need to downregulate your sympathetic nervous system so I can upregulate your parasympathetic nervous system. To put these two terms simply, your sympathetic nervous system is your fight and flight mode, while your parasympathetic nervous system encourages you to rest and digest. I achieve this by promoting an environment of tranquility, this is accomplished with soothing music, a dimly lit room, silky smooth sheets, a perfectly plush massage table, and a delectable piece of chocolate. I want you to feel so comfortable that you are ready to go to sleep. Every detail needs to be accounted for, because I want you to relax so deeply you feel comfortable enough to snore.

Once the scene is right it is time for you to feel delightful. Rather than jumping straight into the specific spots of your neck pain, I see your back and neck like a large open canvas. If we want to create a masterpiece we need to begin with a base coat, and layer each technique, so we can progressively dial in. I like to start by massaging the trapezius. This is a huge muscle on everyone, it is a diamond shaped muscle that runs from the base of your head to your shoulders and midback. I begin with a technique I call Blooming. I gave this technique its name because my hand movements follow the pattern of a flower’s petals. This technique creates an amazing sensation that feels absolutely exquisite. Then I use an assortment of techniques to relax the trapezius, and once it is ready, I begin dialing in, step by step to address the muscles involved with your neck pain.

At Jennifer Brand all of our therapists have a magnificent approach to helping you alleviate your neck pain. Nothing we do is generalized or cookie-cutter. Every massage we perform is tailor-made to your unique needs. This is because everyone is different, and so are our therapists. While at our spa we want you to feel wonderful in the most spectacular ways, and the best method of achieving this is through a customized approach in every session. Every massage therapist at Jennifer Brand has their own style, dreams and goals and we are here to celebrate their passion and drive. It is our core belief that when a therapist feels cared for, respected, and genuinely appreciated this translates directly into their quality of touch. When our therapists feel like they are a part of something significant and are living their purpose, it encourages their heart to shine, and as a result their massage will encourage you to live your best life.