Those tight muscles at the base of your skull, right where your head meets your neck? They're called your suboccipital muscles, and they play a bigger role than you might think.
These small, deep muscles help coordinate head and eye movements and contribute to the stability and positioning of your head.
When they're working overtime, you may notice neck tension, headaches, or discomfort around the base of your skull.
The four suboccipital muscles help coordinate head and eye movements.
Why more pressure isn't always better
Muscle tension isn't always the enemy. Sometimes, it's your nervous system's way of protecting you and creating stability.
The suboccipitals can become overworked in response to visual, vestibular, and postural demands.
Trying to force these muscles to relax with deep tissue massage or aggressive adjustments can sometimes aggravate sensitive tissues and increase protective tension.
That's why I take a gentler approach.
Craniosacral Therapy for Neck Tension in Portland
Craniosacral therapy uses gentle, hands-on techniques to work with the body's tissues and nervous system.
Rather than forcing tight muscles to release, my approach is to create an environment where your body can soften and let go of unnecessary tension.
If you've tried massage, stretching, or repeated muscle release without lasting results, it may be time to explore a different approach.
Your body isn't working against you. It's trying to protect you.
Sometimes, the path forward isn't more pressure. It's listening to what your body needs.
Interested in exploring gentle Craniosacral therapy in Portland? Learn more about my approach and schedule a Craniosacral session.
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