Exercises for Upper Cross Syndrome

As previously mentioned, the UCS is caused by a constant habit of poor posture, to achieve a correct posture on top of massage therapy, we would need to do exercises for Upper cross syndrome.

Table of Contents

So, there are 2 main groups of muscle that we want to target.

1st group, the tense muscles:

Levator Scapulae
Upper Trapezius
Pectoralis Major

Second group, weak muscle

Deeper Neck Flexors
Rhomboids
Middle Trapezius.

Now, let’s go through some exercises for Upper cross syndrome.

Brugger exercises for Neck deep flexors.

This exercise is going to focus on improving the strength of the deep flexors.

Stand straight with feet apart ;
Place 2 fingers, one on each sternocleidomastoid and start gently and slowly flexing the head forward.
The fingers seating on the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) would allow you to keep those muscles deactivate and so would place all the strength of flexion on the deeper muscle that we are trying to train in gaining strength.
If you are not sure where the SCM is, place a hand horizontally between the neck and the upper chest, along the Clavicle line. Rotate your head gently right and left and those 2 muscles that pop up below your hand when you rotate the head are the SCM. Just be aware that the L SCM will activate when you rotate right and vice versa;

3 repetitions for 10 head flexion.

Do you feel like you need help with your neck pain? Book now your next appointment at Fitzroy North Clinic.

Strengthening the Rhomboids and Middle Trapezius.

For this exercise, we would need an elastic rubber band for exercises.

· Stand straight, feet apart, and wrap the elastic band on your fist, thumb facing out.

· As you breathe in flex the elbow at 90, breathe in and bring the rubber band in tension. As you breathe out extend the elbow out.

· Release and start again. 3 repetitions of 10.

All those exercises have to be done daily for 6 weeks in order to be effective to change the UCS.

Self Massage for Pectoralis/Upper Trap/Levator Scapulae.

Pectoralis Self Massage exercises:

Lie down in a prone position with the arms along the body;
Place a tennis or a spiky ball right between the Pectoralis and the floor;
Keep the foot’s toes anchored on the floor;
Gently push yourself forward and back by breathing in (from the nose) and out (from the mouth). If you would like more pressure, is enough to open the arm at 90 and lightly extend the arm, by lifting the hand from the floor.

Upper Trap and Levator Scapulae Thai Yoga exercises:

Start by lying in a supine position and the ball will be seated between the shoulder and the floor.
Place the ball right next to the upper angle of the scapula. This time keep your shoulder flexed at 90 degrees, so with the hand facing the ceiling.
Start gently a slow rotation movement at the shoulder, by drawing a circle with the hand.
3 series of 6 repetitions for each rotation movement.

With Thai Yoga, you wanna make sure that each exercise is done slowly and gently.

Those exercises often work on the delicate area of the body and can reproduce massage pain.

Moving the body slowly and gently and having constant breathing in and out would allow you to live Thai Yoga at its full potential.