SCM's thoughts about Driving

(Home-made art work that is exaggerated to incorporate humor)

Here we can see the S.C.M. at work . In it's not abbreviated form it goes by the name of Sternocleidomastoid. Though it is such a long word, it is quite helpful if you are stuck in an anatomy trivia jam, because it tells you all of the attachments!

The S.C.M pushes the head left to right. Being a long muscle that spans from clavicle to just below the ear, when it becomes chronically tight it can contribute to migraines and headaches as it pinches the nerves around it that go up into the sinus cavity. When the S.C.M. becomes fatigued the muscle does not re-condition as quickly in the natural way it does normally. So when having to look further then the side mirrors can take you, this action can be painful or simply unable to comply to the range.

Ways to help the Sternocleidomastoid?

Ice therapy, if applied carefully is helpful in loosening the chronic tightness.

Use that Motion. If that motion is a necessity to your life, let's reset it so that you can continue to use the S.C.M to it's best potential.

Keep it by stretching. Looking side to side, up and down

Monthly Massage Tune ups. To check if there are any other muscles tightening the S.C.M.

Watch your posture: Notice if you are holding your head in a odd position for long periods.

Drink plenty of water.

When the S.C.M. is tight what areas does pain refer to?

Highlighted in red.

From this diagrapm it is easy to see:

Jaw, teeth, temporal, ear, eye, neck and head discomfort may occur in different circumstances.

Have you noticed any of these in your case?

References:

Anatomical picture found online

Reference pain picture found online - trigger points

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