SPRINGING THE COLLARBONES & SOOTHING THE NECK

The position of the collarbones has a drastic effect on the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Poorly positioned collarbones are primary causers of headaches, neck pain, and jaw problems, (as well as hand, wrist, and forearm weakness, carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress problems.) Poorly positioned collarbones are collapsed, downward and inward, drawing the shoulder blades up, driving the ribcage down, rounding the shoulders, compressing the chest and shortening the bicep muscles. When the collarbones collapse, the bicep, chest, and shoulder muscles work against us, creating habitual tension in the neck, shoulder and jaw joints.

Habitual tension is wasted muscle energy.

Habitual shoulder tension depresses the ribcage and interferes with our thymus gland, which controls our immune system. Habitual shoulder tension is not a charming character quirk; it is an ongoing form of self-sabotage, weakening and poisoning our lives.

The good news is our bodies are designed to strengthen, heal, and self-correct. Our muscles know that design, and given a chance, will direct their abundant strength to remove useless tension and replace it with supple, balanced power.

Unbalanced muscle creates tension. Tension creates weakness. Weakness creates pain.

Balanced muscle overcomes tension with supple strength. Strength overcomes weakness.

The collarbones are key players in reviving springy strength to the chest and biceps. The collarbones connect to the shoulder blades. As long as the collarbones are depressed; the shoulder blades will be pulled up, crowding the neck and compressing the ribcage, and forcing the biceps to shorten. (See illustration)

The biceps are prime movers of the shoulder blades. If the biceps have no opportunity to work in a longer range; (shoulder blades pulled down and back) the bicep strength will weaken the shoulder joint, making it prey to dislocation, rotator cuff injury, weakness and loss of range of motion.

The collarbones act like levers on the shoulder blades.

If the collarbone is pulled down the shoulder blades ride up (We don’t want that!). If the collarbones spring up; the shoulder blades pull back and down, springing the ribs up (Yes! We want that!) Fortunately it only takes a little lift and forward positioning of the collarbones to lever the shoulderblades back and down; so the biceps can enjoy a longer springier range of motion.

Springier longer biceps mean stronger, more stable shoulders!

As we look at the collarbones (clavicles) and ponder how they work; we have to face the fact that everything in the body inter-connects. The primary movers of the collarbones are not directly attached to the collarbones at all! They are attached to the shoulderblades (biceps, trapezius & rhomboids) and to the ribs (pec-minors).In other words our body has to work as a balanced unit. Rearranging the collarbones upward and forward has a dramatic effect on blood supply and nerve signal to the arms, wrists and hands.

All the nerves and blood vessels that supply the arms and hands travel underneath the collarbones.

Collapsed collarbones interfere with nerve signal and blood supply, playing a major part in weakness and nerve impingement of the hands, wrists and arms (thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc..) If we look to the resilient upward springing design of the ribs and shoulders we can often find relief without recourse to surgery or drugs.

Springing the collarbones up and forward is part and parcel of every Revive-A-Back flex.

The Springy Brace I,II & III, Wide Push-up, Door Spring, Pec-Lat Flex, Bicep Spring Curl, Palm Changes, & House of Courage offer a wide number of angles and muscles to engage the collarbones up and forward. The aim of the exercises is to condition our muscles to continue to spring the ribs up, shoulders back and the collarbones forward as their ongoing springy posture.