Have you noticed a small hump of the back of the neck? If you feel like you are having a hard time standing straight, you may have developed Dowager’s Hump.
Dowager’s Hump is an outward curvature of the thoracic vertebrae of the upper back. It appears as a rounded hunch that many people refer to as a hunchback. In addition to the bump on the base of the neck, Dowager’s Hump has a forward head posture where your head is jutting forward.
If you're developing Dowager's Hump, you might also notice the following symptoms:
Muscles fatigue easily
Gradual postural changes
Chronic pain in the back, neck, and shoulders
Trouble Breathing
Bad posture is the leading cause of Dowager’s Hump but it’s certainly not the only cause. Other possible causes include osteoporosis, a congenital problem, or Scheuermann’s kyphosis. No matter the specific underlying cause, Dowager’s Hump happens because of the weakening of muscles around your thoracic spine. When the trapezius muscles weaken, other muscles have to do their job for them and that puts those additional muscles under constant strain from overuse.
The trapezius is a large band of muscles that spans the upper back, shoulders, and neck. Trapezius plays a vital role in posture, shoulder blade movement and control as well as neck and shoulder movements.
Tension and tightness in the trapezius muscle is common, particularly among people who work in an office, hunchover their computers all day ,or cab drivers who stay on the road for several hours. Extended phone calls where your device is wedged between your ear and shoulder is also a plausible cause. Playing musical instruments, practicing weightlifting or training for contact sports for extended hours can also cause trapezius pain.
Tightness in the trapezius muscles at the back of the neck and shoulders, bad posture, or osteoporosis can, over time, give you a "dowager's hump."
If left untreated, individuals with Dowager's Hump will start to experience pain in their shoulders and neck. Over time, their chin may move closer to their ribcage, potentially leading to spinal degeneration. Many individuals with Dowager's Hump suffer from intense headaches in addition to neck and shoulder pain. Some are more concerned with the physical appearance of Dowager's Hump, while others seek relief from the associated pain.
There are many treatment options for Dowager's hump. They range from physiotherapy to surgery. Early intervention and treatment of this condition can alter its course and provide many health benefits.
Physical therapy should be tried first before considering other treatment methods such as medications or surgery. Please note, while doing daily activities and exercises you should avoid flexing the spine (bent forward) because it may cause fractures. Try to maintain your spine in a neutral position as much as possible.
If you take medications or get surgery, the muscles, joints, and bones that assist and make up your spine need to be strengthened. Your treatment choice will vary depending on the severity, but it will have to be supplemented with physiotherapy if it isn't your primary treatment choice.
Among the physiotherapy, It is important to release the tight trapezius muscles which are encouraging the formation of the neck hump.
A trapezius muscle massage can benefit you in many ways, including:
Improved blood circulation
Faster muscle recovery after workouts
Decreased swelling
Better posture
Improved range of motion
Reduced risk of injury
Better quality of sleep
As you won’t always have massage therapists or a trusted person to count on for a massage, you need to learn how to self-massage to release your tight trapezius muscle every day. LittleMum Trapezius trigger point Massager is specially designed for trapezius deep tissue self-massage at home.
Fourteen nodes are predominantly located where trigger points are mostly often occurred., Perfectly mimics the pressure produced by deep tissue massage therapists, targets the deep layers of trapezius area to ease muscle, improve blood flow and aid in recovery from trapezius strain .
Instead of only working on the muscles’ surface, LittleMum Trapezius trigger point massager, made of food grade silicone, can exert enough pressure that penetrate deeply to break up muscle tension, adhesions and scar tissue that often Lie in deeper muscles
You just need lie down and settle your weight on the massager and it lifts your head to support your neck in the neutral aligned position and helps your neck stay in its optimal C-curve consistent with the rest of your spine.
We recommend using the massager daily. Not only will it help to get rid of the hump, but you should feel relief in your whole upper back and neck. As for how long it'll take to see the hump dissipate, that comes down to the hump's severity. Depending on factors like your age, medical history, lifestyle, and the severity of your Dowager's Hump, you may be able to improve or even correct the misalignment. This can be achieved by gradually strengthening your upper back muscles and releasing tension, particularly in muscles like the trapezius, to gently lift your shoulders and head.
How to Use LittleMum Trapezius Massager
1. Lie on your back and feet firmly planted on the ground. Slot massager under you back. Locate the first two smaller pressure points underneath your sub-occipitalis area and move slowly to find the right position for you.
2. You can apply varying levels of pressure with your body weight and hand movements to determine how deep and pressure you wish to apply. Changing the surface which you are laying will also vary the pressure level. Lying on bed is the easier way than on carpet or a mat.
3. You can do arm circle to exercise your trapezius muscles while lying on the massager. You may also prefer to use it in conjunction with LittleMum Back Massager as many others do.
4. For intense massage lover, lie on your back with your knees bent, and feet flat on the floor under your knees, raise your hip, lifting entire lower back up off ground. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, and then return to your starting position.
5. Or use a chair to firm your body while raising your hip to lift the lower back up off the ground. Your shoulder muscles will feel more pressure in this way. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, and then return to your starting position
6. If you feel the pressure point domes NOT prominent enough for your dense knots, you can fill a small face towel in the bottom gap to prevent massager’s arch from collapsing when you settle weight on the massager.
It is common to feel a degree of discomfort during the massage itself. The whole point of this massager is to break up muscle tension, adhesions and scar tissue that often lie in deeper musculature. This pain would naturally fade away in short time after you finish your 5-10 minutes session.
The LittleMum Trapezius Massager has received overwhelmingly positive feedback on Amazon. It comes with a 30-day free return policy and a 15-year warranty. Click the link below to purchase. This product is also FSA or HSA eligible when bought through Amazon.
