Muscles enable us to move, contribute to our shape, maintain posture and produce heat as well as helping us to breathe, digest food, circulate blood and perform invariable other body functions.  Approximately 40-50% of body mass is made up of muscle tissue. Posture is the bearing in which you hold your body plumb when you are… continue reading »

Tags: postural problems, Remedial and deep tissue massage, stress relief
Posted in Massage Benefits by Neil Case | Comments Off

The Shoulder Girdle. The shoulder girdle consists of  a whole bunch of bony joints and muscles that connect the upper limbs to the rest of the skeleton and provide an impressive range of movement. The three bones which form the Shoulder Girdle are the Scapula, the Clavicle, and the Humerus, and the most important feature of the… continue reading »

Tags: neck muscles, shoulder muscles
Posted in Muscles, Neck and Shoulders by Neil Case | Comments Off

On the back of the body, the trunk muscles are built in layers, and as a group they help stabilise the trunk and protect to the spinal cord.  They hold the body upright while extending and rotating the neck and trunk.  The many muscles throughout the back are named because of the actions they perform…… continue reading »

Tags: Abdominal muscles, Trunk muscles
Posted in Muscles by Neil Case | Comments Off

Everywhere you look, people are out walking, jogging, cycling, playing touch or tennis or swimming and squash. But what are their aspirations? Why this relatively sudden interest in fitness? Recent studies have shown that active people lead fuller lives. They have more stamina, resist illness and stay trim. They also seem to have more… continue reading »

Tags: exercise, Muscle stretch, postural imbalance
Posted in Stretching by Neil Case | Comments Off

Shoulder Joint Muscles. The shoulder joint is one of the body’s most flexible and allows the arm to be positioned and moved in just about any direction. The Shoulder Joint also allows the arm to be rotated inward (internal rotation) or outward (external rotation) to help put the bent forearm in a favorable position to perform a… continue reading »

Tags: shoulder muscles
Posted in Muscles, Neck and Shoulders by Neil Case | Comments Off

Causes of a Wry Neck You’ll find a Wry Neck, also called Torticolis, will appear upon waking in the morning or from a sudden, quick movement involving the neck.  In the lead up to condition the patient has usually performed activities that involve slouching, poor posture, repetitive neck movements or over lifting. This gradually stretches tissue in… continue reading »

Tags: Neck pain, torticolis, Wry Neck
Posted in Massage Benefits, Neck and Shoulders by Neil Case | Comments Off

It’s a real pain in the bum. I’m not referring to your nagging wife or lazy husband.  This is all about pain in that muscle tucked in behind the Glutes… the Piriformis, and someone in the world of the wise has named it the Piriformis syndrome. The Piriformis Syndrome effects countless numbers of people daily, and doctors… continue reading »

Tags: hip flexors, lower back pain, Sciaticia
Posted in Back Problems, Hip Muscles by Neil Case | Comments Off

The human skeleton has 206 bones and more than 650 muscles. Your muscles make up about half of your body weight and can be divided into three separate groups… skeletal, cardiac and smooth.  These groups can all stretch and contract, but each play very different roles. Skeletal Muscle: Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles positioned between two bones and… continue reading »

Tags: Body Muscles, structure
Posted in Muscles by Neil Case | Comments Off

Iliopsoas The Iliopsoas is sometimes classified as two muscles, Iliacus and Psoas major, with Iliacus arising from the Ilium and Psoas from the vertebrae. Action: Flexes and laterally rotates hip as well as flexing the  torso when the legs are fixed (e.g. laying to sitting). Typical use: •    Climbing a step. Sartorius The Sartorius is a two joint muscle and… continue reading »

Tags: hip flexors, Hips, Muscles, Thighs
Posted in Hip Muscles, Muscles by Neil Case | Comments Off

Gluteal pain is a common component of many low back pain disorders. The Gluteal group of muscles consists of three  muscles: Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus.  “Gluteus” is from the Greek and means rump.  “Maximus” is the largest of the muscles and “Minimus” the smallest.  The role of the Gluteus Maximus is different from… continue reading »

Tags: gluteal, hip flexors, lower back pain
Posted in Back Problems by Neil Case | Comments Off