Cutting Through; a Brief Overview of the Serratus Posterior Superior

Sometimes it is the smallest muscles that can cause the biggest pain.

Serratus muscles are named so for the jagged appearance, like a knife with a serrated edge.

There are three setts of Serratus muscles; the set shown here is known as the Serratus Anterior, as shown by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger back in his heyday. 

Always visually pronounced among body builders and comic book heroes these muscles are. Though the anterior set are perhaps the most well known, it is the posterior superior set that is the most problematic.

The Serratus Posterior (back) Superior (higher up) is a set of muscles that are deep in the body. They begin at the spine, attached to what is known Ligamentum Nuchae and the spinous processes of your lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae and attach to the 2nd and 5th ribs, under the shoulder blades. Notice here in this medial posterior view that only with the Scapulae (shoulder blades) extended can theses muscles be treated.

Although these muscles' main action is only to elevate the ribs during inspiration, they have suffered greatly from the introduction of the typewriter and then the computer. The Human body is not separated into groups of muscles - they all work together in tandem. The Serratus Posterior Superior muscles can be strained by exercise or poor posture. Moreover, tension in muscles that are superficial such as the Rhomboid muscles, can cause trigger points to develop in the deeper muscles as well.

Being directly under the Rhomboid muscles, Scapulae (shoulder blades), and Trapezius muscles primarily, it can be difficult to assess where the pain is should this muscle develop knots or trigger points. Due to aggravation of the Serratus Posterior Superior (SPS), pain under the blades is a common sign and is extremely debilitating. These muscles cannot be easily relaxed without professional help; they require a therapist to apply very focused work to release tension and thus alleviate the pain and/or other symptoms. 


Of course that is not all, folks! SPS aggravation can cause a number of other sensations such as chest pain and numbness. The following link is to a website I have used to analyze some clients' symptoms to help assess which muscle group may be the true culprit. 

http://www.pressurepointer.com/pain_reference_chart.htm

As a therapist will know, if you have an SPS that is causing pain or tension, transversely the chest muscles will need treatment as well. The body is a curious system; tension and pain have a curiously unpleasant way of translating to the opposite side of the body of the affected muscle.

For self care, make sure to stretch your body regularly! Remember that regular massage combined with stretching helps to reduce levels of stress hormones, promotes better sense of self, and contributes to overall longevity.