Is this muscle the cause of neck pain? Let's talk about the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

Neck pain is a very common thing for many of us, isn't it? This neck pain occurs especially when working in front of a computer for a long time, or when looking down at your phone. Sometimes when you wake up in the morning, your neck feels like it's sprained. But did you know that the main cause of this pain could be a special muscle on either side of your neck? Today we're talking about this muscle that many people have not even heard of, but is very important for the health of our neck. That is the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle.

What is this Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle?

This is a bit of a tongue twister, isn't it? So let's call it the "SCM muscle" for short. Simply put, this is the largest and most important muscle in the front of your neck. It's located right under your skin. You can feel it with your fingers on the right and left sides of your neck. If you turn your head to one side, you'll see this muscle pulsating on the other side. It's through this muscle that you can feel the pulse in your neck.

This is a pair, meaning it's a muscle that's made up of two parts. That means there's one on the right side and one on the left. This muscle starts at the bottom of your neck, which is at the top of your chest. Then it goes up the sides of your neck and ends at the back of your skull, just below your ears.

Why does this have such a strange name?

It gets such a complicated name because of the three bones it's connected to. Let's keep it simple.

1. Sterno: This refers to your sternum , the flat bone in the middle of your chest. Part of the SCM muscle starts here.

2. Cleido: This refers to your clavicle , which is the bone in your collarbone. The other part of the SCM muscle starts in the middle of your collarbone.

3. Mastoid: This refers to the bony protrusion at the base of your skull, behind your ear. We call this the mastoid process . The SCM muscle that runs up your neck ends at this bone.

Simply put, it is called Sterno-Cleido-Mastoid because it starts at the sternum and clavicle and ends at the mastoid process.

What service does the SCM muscle provide to our body?

Although this muscle is small, its function is huge. The SCM muscle is responsible for many of the movements of your head and neck.

Imagine, when you're walking down the street and someone speaks, you suddenly turn your head to see how much the SCM muscle helps you eat, breathe, and do all of this.

Conditions that may affect the SCM muscle

Like any other muscle, the SCM muscle can be injured, sprained, or pulled. It can also be painful due to various medical conditions.

These are some of the most common situations.

• Sternocleidomastoid Syndrome: This is when trigger points develop in certain areas of the SCM muscle. This condition can be caused by things like poor posture, neck injuries, and stress. This can cause neck stiffness, pain, and a host of other symptoms.
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD): A painful condition that occurs in the jaw joint. Problems with the SCM muscle can aggravate this TMD condition and cause associated pain.
• Torticollis (Wryneck): This is a condition in which the SCM muscle is shortened and tight, causing the head to tilt or turn to one side. This is sometimes a congenital condition. This condition is seen in newborn babies.

How and where does SCM muscle pain feel?

This is where many people get confused. Even if there is a problem with the SCM muscle, the pain is not only felt in the neck. Imagine that the problem is in one place, but the pain is felt in another place. It is like a light bulb not turning on because of a problem in one place in an electrical cord. Due to this phenomenon called Referred Pain, SCM muscle pain can arise in the following places.

• Forehead and around the eyes (just like a sinus problem)
• Cheek and jaw area
• Inside the ear and behind the ear
• Throat (like pain when swallowing)
• Shoulders and upper chest

Other symptoms that may occur in addition to pain

In addition to pain, problems with the SCM muscle can also cause symptoms such as:

• Headaches: Migraine-like pain, especially on one side of the head.
• Dizziness and Vertigo: A feeling of spinning.
• Nausea
• Eye changes: drooping eyelids, red eyes, watery eyes, blurred vision.
• Neck stiffness: Difficulty turning or bending the head.

You see, right? How far a problem with a simple neck muscle can go. Often, when we experience these symptoms, we think it's some other serious illness. But maybe the cause is this SCM muscle.

What are the treatments for this condition?

The best thing is that many of these conditions can be treated with physical therapy and lifestyle changes.

• Hot or cold therapy: This helps reduce pain and swelling.
• Neck Exercises (Stretches): There are special exercises to reduce muscle stiffness, strengthen it, and make it more flexible.
• Massage: Massage is useful for relaxing tight muscles and relieving trigger points.
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist can recommend the best exercises and treatments for you.

In some severe cases, for example if the muscle is severely damaged or there is a condition such as a tumor, surgery may be necessary.

But remember, your doctor will determine exactly which of these treatments is right for you. Therefore, it is imperative to seek medical advice before doing anything you feel like doing.

How do I keep my SCM muscle healthy?

It's best to prevent these painful conditions before they occur. By incorporating these simple things into your daily routine, you can keep your SCM muscle healthy.

1. Manage stress: When we are stressed, we unconsciously tighten the muscles in our neck and shoulders. So, try to relax your mind through things like meditation, yoga, and exercise.

2. Practice good posture: This is the most important thing.

• When working on a computer, keep the screen at eye level.
• When using your phone, don't bend your neck and look down. Use your phone at eye level.
• When reading, don't hold a book down and bend your neck to read.

3. Support your neck while sleeping: Sleeping on your side is best for your neck. Use a pillow that provides good neck support. Avoid sleeping with your hand under your stomach.

4. Be careful when doing exercises: When doing exercises like sit-ups, do not suddenly raise your head quickly. Doing so can damage the SCM muscle. Do those exercises slowly.

5. Stretch your neck: If you work in a sitting position all day, do some simple neck exercises by turning your neck from side to side, up and down, several times a day. People who spend a lot of time in the same position, such as violinists, painters, and carpenters, are especially at risk of injury to the SCM muscle. If you work in such a job, ask your doctor about special neck-protecting exercises.