Muscles
Longus colli
Deep cervical flexor; stabilizes and flexes the cervical spine.
Overview
Deep cervical flexor; stabilizes and flexes the cervical spine. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Anterior cervical spine, deep behind the trachea and esophagus.
Referred pain pattern
Sore throat sensation, dry cough trigger, anterior neck pain.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Whiplash, forward head posture, mouth breathing, prolonged head extension.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Chin nods (cranio-cervical flexion drill), breathing retraining. Clinically: careful manual work.
Symptoms commonly linked
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction