Back Clinic Functional Medicine Team. Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.
Practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.
By changing the disease-centered focus of medical practice to this patient-centered approach, our physicians are able to support the healing process by viewing health and illness as part of a cycle in which all components of the human biological system interact dynamically with the environment. This process helps to seek and identify genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may shift a person’s health from illness to well-being.
Stress and anxiety treatments can include a range of therapies, including talking therapy, meditation techniques, and medication. Chiropractic care, adjustments, and massage are also used as a treatment plan to de-stress. Whether diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or experiencing intense stress, chiropractic functional medicine can address the physical symptoms to rebalance the mind and body.
De-Stress
Physical and mental health are connected. Stress and anxiety can cause tension, fatigue, headaches, and aches and pains. It can make sleeping and/or relaxing difficult, affecting mental and physical health. Signs of stress include:
Blood sugar level changes
Every day or almost every day, tension headaches
Teeth grinding
Backaches
Muscle tension
Digestive problems
Skin irritation
Hair loss
Heart issues
The spine is the conduit for the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The sympathetic nervous system activates when the brain thinks sudden action or important stressful decisions needs to be taken.
The fight or flight response speeds up the heart rate and releases adrenaline.
The parasympathetic system deactivates the fight or flight response, calming the body into a more relaxed state.
Problems arise when the sympathetic nervous system gets activated repeatedly, causing the fight or flight system to remain semi-active. This can come from long commutes, traffic jams, loud music, deadlines, sports practice, rehearsals, etc. The parasympathetic nervous system never gets a chance to activate and settle the mind and body. The result is constantly feeling stressed and agitated.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care to de-stress decreases stress hormones and releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, which allow healing and help the body relax. Chiropractic adjustments let the brain know it’s time to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and ease down. Chiropractic helps by:
Relieving Muscle Tension
When the body is under stress, the muscles tense up, causing discomfort, aches, and pains.
The continued stress can lead to health issues, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and depression.
Chiropractic relieves tension restoring the body to its natural balance.
Chiropractic can help effectively restore bodily functions.
Adjustments and massage rebalance blood circulation and energy flow, allowing clear nervous system transmission.
Lowering Blood Pressure
Chiropractic care has shown positive results in lowering blood pressure.
Improving Quality Sleep
Chiropractic care improves sleep patterns by correcting spinal misalignments.
Increasing Relaxation
Chiropractic adjustments can release and relax muscle activity, allowing the body to relax and de-stress completely.
Health Voice
References
Jamison, J R. “Stress management: an exploratory study of chiropractic patients.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 23,1 (2000): 32-6. doi:10.1016/s0161-4754(00)90111-8
Kültür, Turgut, et al. “Evaluation of the effect of chiropractic manipulative treatment on oxidative stress in sacroiliac joint dysfunction.” Turkish journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 66,2 176-183. 18 May. 2020, doi:10.5606/tftrd.2020.3301
Mariotti, Agnese. “The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain-body communication.” Future science OA vol. 1,3 FSO23. 1 Nov. 2015, doi:10.4155/fso.15.21
Stefanaki, Charikleia, et al. “Chronic stress, and body composition disorders: implications for health and disease.” Hormones (Athens, Greece) vol. 17,1 (2018): 33-43. doi:10.1007/s42000-018-0023-7
Yaribeygi, Habib et al. “The impact of stress on body function: A review.” EXCLI journal vol. 16 1057-1072. 21 Jul. 2017, doi:10.17179/excli2017-480
The body needs food for fuel, energy, growth, and repair. The digestive process breaks down food into a form the body can absorb and use for fuel. The broken-down food gets absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine, and the nutrients are carried to the cells throughout the body. Understanding how the organs work together to digest food can help with health goals and overall health.
The Digestive Process
The organs of the digestive system are the following:
The digestive process starts with the anticipation of eating, stimulating the glands in the mouth to produce saliva. The digestive system’s primary functions include:
Mixing food
Moving food through the digestive tract – peristalsis
The chemical breakdown of food into smaller absorbable components.
The digestive system converts food into its simplest forms, which include:
Glucose – sugars
Amino acids – protein
Fatty acids – fats
Proper digestion extracts nutrients from food and liquids to maintain health and function properly. Nutrients include:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
Mouth and Esophagus
The food is ground up by the teeth and moistened with saliva to swallow easily.
Saliva also has a special chemical enzyme that starts breaking down carbohydrates into sugars.
Muscular contractions of the esophagus massage the food into the stomach.
Stomach
The food passes through a small muscle ring into the stomach.
It gets mixed with gastric chemicals.
The stomach churns the food to break it down further.
The food is then squeezed into the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum.
Small Intestine
Once in the duodenum, the food mixes with more digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bilefrom the liver.
The food passes into the lower parts of the small intestine, called the jejunum and the ileum.
Nutrients are absorbed from the ileum, lined with millions of villi or thread-like fingers that facilitate the absorption.
Each villus is connected to a mesh of capillaries, which is how nutrients get absorbed into the bloodstream.
Pancreas
The pancreas is one of the largest glands.
It secretes digestive juices and a hormone called insulin.
Insulin helps regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
The liver has several different roles that include:
Breaks down fats using bile stored in the gallbladder.
Processes proteins and carbohydrates.
Filters and processes impurities, medications, and toxins.
Generates glucose for short-term energy from compounds like lactate and amino acids.
Large Intestine
A large reservoir of microbes and healthy bacteria live in the large intestine and play an important role in healthy digestion.
Once the nutrients have been absorbed, the waste is passed into the large intestine or bowel.
Water is removed, and the waste gets stored in the rectum.
It is then passed out of the body through the anus.
Digestive System Health
Ways to keep the digestive system and the digestive process healthy include:
Drink More Water
Water helps the food flow more easily through the digestive system.
Low amounts of water/dehydration are common causes of constipation.
Add More Fiber
Fiber is beneficial to digestion and helps with regular bowel movements.
Incorporate both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water.
As soluble fiber dissolves, it creates a gel that can improve digestion.
Soluble fiber may reduce blood cholesterol and sugar.
It helps your body improve blood glucose control, which can aid in reducing your risk for diabetes.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water.
Insoluble fiber attracts water into the stool, making it softer and easier to pass with less strain on the bowels.
Insoluble fiber can help promote bowel health and regularity and supports insulin sensitivity which can help reduce the risk of diabetes.
Balanced Nutrition
Eat fruit and vegetables daily.
Choose whole grains over processed grains.
Avoid processed foods in general.
Choose poultry and fish more than red meat and limit processed meats.
Cut down on sugar.
Eat Foods with Probiotics or Use Probiotic Supplements
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that help combat unhealthy bacteria in the gut.
They also generate healthy substances that nourish the gut.
Consume probiotics after taking antibiotics that often kill all the bacteria in the gut.
Eat Mindfully and Chew Food Slowly
Chewing food thoroughly helps to ensure the body has enough saliva for digestion.
Chewing food thoroughly also makes it easier for nutritional absorption.
Eating slowly gives the body time to digest thoroughly.
It also allows the body to send cues that it is full.
How The Digestive System Works
References
GREENGARD, H. “Digestive system.” Annual review of physiology vol. 9 (1947): 191-224. doi:10.1146/annurev.ph.09.030147.001203
Hoyle, T. “The digestive system: linking theory and practice.” British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) vol. 6,22 (1997): 1285-91. doi:10.12968/bjon.1997.6.22.1285
Martinsen, Tom C et al. “The Phylogeny and Biological Function of Gastric Juice-Microbiological Consequences of Removing Gastric Acid.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 20,23 6031. 29 Nov. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijms20236031
Ramsay, Philip T, and Aaron Carr. “Gastric acid and digestive physiology.” The Surgical clinics of North America vol. 91,5 (2011): 977-82. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2011.06.010
The body’s ability to heal itself is quite remarkable. When injury or illness presents, the body’s systems activate to deal with the problem and restore itself to health. The spine’s bones protect the communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system suffers injury or is damaged in some way, causing impairment, it can cause malfunctioning of the tissues and organs throughout the body. Chiropractic care combined with functional medicine can restore and enhance the body’s self-healing abilities to optimal levels.
The Body’s Ability To Heal Itself
A healthy body regenerates, fights infection, heals wounds, and repairs damage. The body is in a constant state of removing damage and producing new, healthy tissues.
Cells can heal themselves when they become unhealthy and replicate to replace injured or damaged cells.
The body produces new cells to heal the damage if a bone gets fractured or broken.
When the skin gets cut, the blood clots, stopping the bleeding, white blood cells remove the injured and dead cells, and new healthy cells repair the damaged tissue.
The immune system deals with viruses, bacteria, and toxins.
Natural destroyer cells recognize when the body’s cells have been invaded by a virus and destroy the infected cell.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s reaction to an injury or infection, activating the immune system to restore the injured or infected area to health.
A fever is the body’s raising its temperature to levels that will kill viruses and bacteria.
The elevation in temperature also triggers certain cellular mechanisms which help the body fight the infection.
Stem Cells
The body heals and regenerates itself through stem cells.
Once the body is formed, embryonic stem cells disappear, and adult stem cells take over.
The adult stem cells divide, producing an identical stem cell and a healthy, mature cell of a specific type.
Each type of adult stem cell only can become certain types of tissue.
For example, Mesenchymal Stem Cells can regenerate bone, fat, muscle, and cartilage cells.
Neural Stem Cells help regenerate nerve tissue in the brain and spinal cord.
Epithelial Stem Cells regenerate skin.
Adult stem cells can reproduce for a long time but eventually stop reproducing as efficiently.
Nervous System
The nervous system assists the whole body in maintaining communication, using electrical and chemical impulses to send and receive messages. The system reacts to changes inside and outside the body. Infections, injuries, disorders, and conditions can cause imbalances causing communication problems that can lead to health issues. Common problems of the nervous system include:
Sciatica – Pressure on a nerve/s caused by a slipped, bulging, or herniated disc in the spine or arthritis of the spine and, sometimes, other factors.
Parkinson’s disease – The death of neurons in a part of the brain called the midbrain. Symptoms include shaking and mobility problems.
Epilepsy – Abnormal electrical activity in the brain causing seizures.
Meningitis – Inflammation of the membrane covering the brain.
Multiple sclerosis – The myelin sheaths protecting the nerves of the central nervous system become damaged and deteriorates.
Chiropractic Care
Subluxations are misaligned or damaged joints that are not functioning correctly. These joints can place pressure on a nerve, which interferes with the normal nervous system function. Chiropractic care can realign, restore and maintain neuromusculoskeletal system health to reactivate the body’s natural healing abilities.
Cerebral Palsy Chiropractic Treatment
References
Haavik, Heidi, et al. “Effects of 12 Weeks of Chiropractic Care on Central Integration of Dual Somatosensory Input in Chronic Pain Patients: A Preliminary Study.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 40,3 (2017): 127-138. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.10.002
Lee, Courtney, et al. “Mind-body therapies for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms.” Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) vol. 15 Suppl 1 (2014): S21-39. doi:10.1111/pme.12383
Maltese PE, Michelini S, Baronio M, Bertelli M. Molecular foundations of chiropractic therapy. Acta Biomed. 2019 Sep 30;90(10-S):93-102. doi: 10.23750/abm.v90i10-S.8768. PMID: 31577263; PMCID: PMC7233649.
McSwan, Joyce, et al. “Self-Healing: A Concept for Musculoskeletal Body Pain Management – Scientific Evidence and Mode of Action.” Journal of pain research vol. 14 2943-2958. 21 Sep. 2021, doi:10.2147/JPR.S321037
Navid, Muhammad Samran et al. “The effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation on central processing of tonic pain – a pilot study using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA).” Scientific reports vol. 9,1 6925. 6 May. 2019, doi:10.1038/s41598-019-42984-3
Mindful eating involves paying attention to what and how individuals eat, helping to become more aware of the body’s natural hunger and satisfaction cues. The process can help individuals become aware of the reasons behind their hunger and help to reduce cravings, control portion sizes, and develop long-term healthy eating habits.
Mindful Eating
It’s easy to rush through meals and snacks without pausing to enjoy the experience while refueling the body. Like meditation, individuals focus on what they are eating, how it smells, tastes, and the bodily sensations experienced. It is a way of checking in with the mind and body throughout a meal or snack. Mindful eating puts the individual in touch:
Hedonic hunger – emotional, stressful, conditioned, celebratory, etc.
Benefits
Individuals do not have to go all-in but can adopt some principles of slowing down and tuning into the body to improve health. Benefits include:
Better Digestion
Slowing down and chewing food properly makes it easier to digest.
Improved Nutrition
Fast foods can cause a feeling of sluggishness and bloating.
Eating nutrient-packed meals provides more energy.
Improved nutrition means improved immune system health.
The awareness reinforces making healthier choices.
Satisfaction After Meals
Rushing to finish a meal means not enjoying the flavors and texture factors that can generate a sense of fullness and satisfaction.
Training the mind and body to be truly satisfied with meals and snacks leads to less stress and less craving.
Healthier Food Relationship
The body needs food physiologically for fuel and nourishment.
Individuals also develop emotional attachments to food associated with experiences and memories.
Addressing all aspects and influences in food relationships allows individuals to become more aware of their learned behaviors, perceptions, emotions, and mindsets.
Identifies behaviors that are not beneficial so the individual can work to improve them.
Improved Cardiometabolic Health
Mindful or intuitive eating has been shown to improve:
Blood sugar levels in pregnant women.
Inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women.
Lipid and blood pressure in overweight adults.
Food Consumption Health
Put away electronics and set aside time and space for eating only.
Eat in a setting where you are relaxed.
Eating in the car, in front of a computer while working, or on the phone doesn’t give full attention to the eating process and, as a result, can cause the individual to eat more or eat foods that are not healthy.
Sit down and take a few deep breaths before starting the meal.
If emotions are running high and are geared towards eating, see if you can acknowledge and express those emotions rather than eat through them.
This will help the digestive process and get the most out of the meal.
Eat a palette of colors, sample various salty, sweet, spicy, and umami/savory flavors, and take in the food with all the senses.
Not eating a variety of flavors at a meal can cause a feeling of missing something that can lead to unhealthy cravings.
Eat with others, as sharing food can enrich everyone involved and help focus on the experience, not the amount of food consumed.
Chew thoroughly, as digestion begins in the mouth, where enzymes are secreted in saliva to break down food.
Not properly chewing and making the food smaller can cause indigestion and other digestive problems.
Listen to your body and recognize when you have had enough or want more.
Waiting five minutes before getting another serving can help the body become more attuned to hunger and fullness cues.
Eat Mindfully
References
Cherpak, Christine E. “Mindful Eating: A Review Of How The Stress-Digestion-Mindfulness Triad May Modulate And Improve Gastrointestinal And Digestive Function.” Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) vol. 18,4 (2019): 48-53.
Espel-Huynh, H M et al. “A narrative review of the construct of hedonic hunger and its measurement by the Power of Food Scale.” Obesity science & practice vol. 4,3 238-249. 28 Feb. 2018, doi:10.1002/osp4.161
Grider, Hannah S et al. “The Influence of Mindful Eating and/or Intuitive Eating Approaches on Dietary Intake: A Systematic Review.” Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics vol. 121,4 (2021): 709-727.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2020.10.019
Hendrickson, Kelsie L, and Erin B Rasmussen. “Mindful eating reduces impulsive food choice in adolescents and adults.” Health psychology: official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association vol. 36,3 (2017): 226-235. doi:10.1037/hea0000440
Morillo Sarto, Hector, et al. “Efficacy of a mindful-eating program to reduce emotional eating in patients suffering from overweight or obesity in primary care settings: a cluster-randomized trial protocol.” BMJ open vol. 9,11 e031327. 21 Nov. 2019, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031327
Nelson, Joseph B. “Mindful Eating: The Art of Presence While You Eat.” Diabetes spectrum: a publication of the American Diabetes Association vol. 30,3 (2017): 171-174. doi:10.2337/ds17-0015
Warren, Janet M et al. “A structured literature review on the role of mindfulness, mindful eating and intuitive eating in changing eating behaviors: effectiveness and associated potential mechanisms.” Nutrition research reviews vol. 30,2 (2017): 272-283. doi:10.1017/S0954422417000154
The chest has the pectoralis major muscle that works with the upper half of the body that provides mobility and power. The pectoralis major also surrounds the clavicle skeletal structure and works with the thoracic spine. The chest allows mobility to the arms and stability to the shoulders while working together with the shoulder and arm muscles. Many individuals utilize the upper body more when working out, lifting, or carrying objects from one place to another. This causes the muscle to become overused and succumb to injuries that can affect the functionality of the chest and invoke pain-like symptoms in the body. One of the chest muscles affected by pain is the pectoralis muscles, especially the pectoralis minor muscle. Today’s article looks at the pectoralis minor muscle, how myofascial pain affects the pectoralis minor, and how to manage myofascial pain associated with the pectoralis minor. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in chest pain therapies to aid many people suffering from trigger point pain affecting the minor muscles of the pectoralis. We brief patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their examination when appropriate. We indicate that education is a great solution to asking our providers profound and complex questions at the patient’s request. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., notes this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
The Pectoralis Minor Muscle
Have you been experiencing pain in your upper-mid back? Do you feel like your chest is feeling compressed constantly? Do you feel the tension in your shoulders that makes it difficult to reach behind your back? Most of these symptoms are signs that many individuals are developing myofascial pain along the pectoralis muscles, especially the pectoralis minor. The pectoralis minor muscle is a thin triangular-shaped muscle below the pectoralis major. It has a crucial part of the chest as it helps stabilize the scapula (the shoulder blades) and is in front of the thoracic wall of the spine. The pectoralis minor is also part of the respiratory muscle group that works with the lungs. The pectoralis minor muscle has many functions for the shoulder blades, which include:
Stabilization
Depression
Abduction or Protraction
Internal Rotation
Downwards Rotation
When environmental factors begin to affect the lungs and cause respiratory issues in the body, the surrounding respiratory muscle group also gets involved, causing the body to be hunched over.
Myofascial Pain Affecting The Pectoralis Minor
When environmental factors begin to affect the lungs, it causes the respiratory muscles to contract and become compressed. This is just one of the many factors that can affect the pectoralis minor muscle. The other factor is that the pectoralis minor muscle may be short in the chest and when individuals try to reach behind their backs. This causes the pectoralis minor muscle to to be overstretched and develop myofascial pain or trigger points along the muscle fibers. The book, “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction,” written by Dr. Travell, M.D., described the pain from myofascial pain associated with the pectoralis minor to be similar to cardiac pain. This is known as referred pain caused by myofascial pain syndrome and it can be a bit difficult to diagnose since it can mimic other chronic issues. Studies reveal that shortening or any sort of tightness of the pectoralis minor is one of the potential biomechanical mechanisms that is associated with an altered scapular alignment which causes pain and shoulder movement impairments. Overusing the pectoralis minor muscles creates tiny nodules that can affect the stability of the shoulders and causes upper-mid back problems in the thoracic region of the spine.
An Overview Of Trigger Points On The Pectoralis Minor- Video
Have you been experiencing difficulty inreaching behind your back? Do you feeling your body becoming more hunched over than usual? Or have you been experiencing chest pain constantly? These pain-like symptoms are caused by myofascial pain associated with the pectoralis minor muscle. The pectoralis minor muscle helps with the stability of the shoulders and studies reveal that when the presense of myofascial trigger points are linked to shoulder and upper body disorders, it can increase the risk of overlapping conditions that trigger points can mimic. Myofascial trigger points are a common complaint as it can significantly impact a person’s daily activites by causing the taut muscle band to be tender or hypersenitive. When this happens, it can lead to issues of muscle imbalance, weakness and impaired motor function. Thankfully, there are various techniques that can help reduce the pain symptoms and issues in the pectoralis minor muscle, while mananging the trigger points. The video above explainshow to tell when your chest muscles are tight and various tests to know when the pectoralis muscles (both the minor and major) are being affected by trigger points.
Managing Myofacial Pain Associated With Pectoralis Minor
When dealing with chest pains associated with myofascial pain along the pectoralis minor, there are many techniques they can incorporate to prevent myofascial pain from causing further damage to the muscle itself and the surrounding muscles. Various chest stretches can help gently loosen the stiff muscles, warm the pectoralis minor, and improve mobility to the chest and shoulders. Correct posture can help prevent the body from being hunched over constantly and let the surrounding muscles and the pectoralis minor relax. If the pain is unbearable, studies reveal that treatments like dry needling and palpations on the pectoralis minor muscles can help manage the pain caused by trigger points. This kind of treatment allows the muscle to release the trigger point and, combined with a hot or cold pack, can reduce the chances of myofascial pain from forming again in the muscle.
Conclusion
Underneath the pectoralis major muscle, the pectoralis minor is a thin triangular-shaped muscle that helps stabilize the shoulder blades and is located in the front of the thoracic wall of the spine. This tiny muscle is part of the respiratory muscles that have a causal relationship with the lungs and can succumb to environmental factors that can lead to the development of myofascial pain or trigger points on the pectoralis minor. Myofascial pain associated with the pectoralis minor muscle can mimic cardiovascular issues and invoke pain in the muscle. Fortunately, various treatments can help relieve and manage myofascial pain from re-occurring in the pectoralis minor.
References
Bagcier, Fatih, et al. “Three Simple Rules in Pectoral Muscle’s Trigger Point Treatment, Which May Be a Cause of Chest Pain: Position, Palpation, and Perpendicular Needling.” American Board of Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine, 1 Nov. 2020, www.jabfm.org/content/33/6/1031.long.
Baig, Mirza A, and Bruno Bordoni. “Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Pectoral Muscles.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 11 Aug. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545241/.
Morais, Nuno, and Joana Cruz. “The Pectoralis Minor Muscle and Shoulder Movement-Related Impairments and Pain: Rationale, Assessment and Management.” Physical Therapy in Sport : Official Journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2016, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26530726/.
Ribeiro, Daniel Cury, et al. “The Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Neck and Shoulder-Related Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 25 July 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6060458/.
Travell, J. G., et al. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: Vol. 1:Upper Half of Body. Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
The chest in the upper half of the body comprises various structures that each have a job to keep the body functioning. The chest has different large muscles surrounding the ribcage and helps protect the vital organs that allow the host to breathe. The essential organs protected by the ribcage and the chest muscles include the heart and the lungs. These two organs aid the chest with blood circulation, breathing, and digestion to keep the body moving and functional. When injuries or chronic conditions begin to affect the chest, it can cause the muscles surrounding the ribcage to contract and tighten, causing the heart and lungs to work harder and causing various issues to affect the body. This can lead to chronic symptoms in the chest and affect a person’s life. Today’s article looks at the pectoralis major muscle in the chest, how trigger point pain is associated with chest pain, and how to manage trigger points in the chest. We refer patients to certified providers who specialize in chest pain therapies to aid many people suffering from trigger point pain affecting the pectoralis major muscles. We brief patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their examination when appropriate. We indicate that education is a great solution to asking our providers profound and complex questions at the patient’s request. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., takes note of this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
The Pectoralis Major Muscles In The Chest
Have you been experiencing unexplainable chest pains that mimic heart issues? Do you feel muscle stiffness near your clavicle? Or do your chest muscles feel tenser and sorer than usual? Many of these issues affecting the chest could result from trigger points associating with the chest along the pectoralis major muscles. The pectoralis major is the superior and largest muscle in the chest wall’s front area. This muscle looks like a thick fan that surrounds the clavicle and works with the chest and arms to provide mobility and power to the upper body. Studies reveal that the pectoralis major muscle plays an important role in upper limb movements. To that point, it can help with the adduction and medial rotation of the arm, according to the book by Dr. Travell, M.D. “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction,” the pectoralis muscle works with the rest of the chest muscles while being assisted by the teres major and minor muscles, the anterior and posterior deltoid muscles, the subscapularis muscles, and the tricep muscles. The pectoralis major muscles can also be affected by multiple issues affecting the chest and the rest of the upper half of the body.
Trigger Point Pain Associated With The Chest
When the pectoralis major muscles are affected by various issues, they can mimic other chronic conditions that are causing referred pain in different body areas. This is known as trigger point pain, and it can cause overlapping risk profiles on the pectoralis major muscles that can affect the chest. Trigger points are slightly difficult to diagnose as many factors, like repetitive motions or lifting heavy objects, can cause the affected muscles to develop tiny knots along the muscle fibers and cause pain-like symptoms. Many people with chest pains often complain that something is affecting their heart as they place their hands on their chest and gently rub the affected area. However, when their doctors examine them, the issue is not their hearts but their chest muscles. Studies reveal that trigger points affecting the affected muscle can mimic issues like cardiovascular dysfunction in the heart. To that point, active trigger points in the pectoralis major muscle can cause somato-visceral pain to the heart, mimicking cardiovascular issues like paroxysmal arrhythmia. It can also cause visceral-somatic pain where the heart suffers from cardiovascular problems affecting the pectoralis major muscles.
Trigger Point Therapy On The Pectoralis Major-Video
Have you been dealing with chest pains that cause you to hunch over? Does your chest seem to feel tight when you stretch? Or have your chest muscles feel tender to the touch? These pain symptoms are caused by trigger points affecting the pectoralis muscles. Trigger points are generated when a person overuses their muscles from daily activities or succumbs to muscle injuries that cause referred pain in different body areas. So trigger points affecting the pectoralis major muscle may cause chest pains. The video above explains the pectoralis muscles and where the trigger points are located that cause referred pain to the shoulders and the rest of the upper half of the body. Trigger points associated with the chest along the pectoralis major muscles can be treatable through various treatments and techniques that can reduce the symptoms and prevent trigger points from forming along the affected muscle in the future.
Ways To Manage Trigger Points On The Chest
When trigger points affect the pectoralis major muscles, they can invoke chest pain-like symptoms that resemble a cardiovascular disorder. Fortunately, pain specialists like chiropractors, massage therapists, and physiotherapists can utilize various techniques to help reduce the pain caused by trigger points. Studies reveal that when local and referred pain affects the pectoralis major muscle, multiple massage treatments targeting the trigger points can help alleviate the symptoms causing chest pains. Another way people can manage trigger points is by stretching the pectoralis major muscle to relieve tension and soreness in the chest. Incorporating various stretching techniques to alleviate chest pain can help loosen up the stiff muscles and warm them up before a vigorous workout. This allows the pectoralis muscles to provide optimal output on a person’s health and wellness.
Conclusion
The pectoralis major is a thick fan-shaped muscle located on the chest. This muscle works with the shoulders and upper half of the body while protecting the heart and the lungs from various injuries and chronic conditions. When these muscles become affected by injuries or chronic conditions, they can develop trigger points along the chest, causing referred pain to the pectoralis major muscles. This can lead to somato-visceral and visceral-somatic pain symptoms in the chest and make many individuals miserable. Luckily pain specialists who can help manage trigger points along the affected muscle utilize various techniques to reduce the symptoms and prevent trigger points from forming in the affected muscle again. This allows the individual to continue with their daily activities without worrying about chest pains.
References
Haładaj, Robert, et al. “Anatomical Variations of the Pectoralis Major Muscle: Notes on Their Impact on Pectoral Nerve Innervation Patterns and Discussion on Their Clinical Relevance.” BioMed Research International, Hindawi, 2 Apr. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6466946/.
Moraska, Albert F, et al. “Responsiveness of Myofascial Trigger Points to Single and Multiple Trigger Point Release Massages: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial.” American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5561477/.
Simons, David G. “Cardiology and Myofascial Trigger Points: Janet G. Travell’s Contribution.” Texas Heart Institute Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2003, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC152827/.
Solari, Francesca, and Bracken Burns. “Anatomy, Thorax, Pectoralis Major Major.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 26 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525991/.
Travell, J. G., et al. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: Vol. 1:Upper Half of Body. Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
Sugar is a highly addictive carbohydrate linked to obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and mood disorders. Individuals ready to phase out sugar will improve overall health, regardless of age and health status, but the transition can be challenging. A sugar-free or low-sugar diet can help individuals with blood sugar or systemic inflammation, including pre-diabetes, diabetes, heart disease, PCOS, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune diseases.
Phase Out Sugar
Low-Sugar Diet
A low-sugar nutrition plan focuses on maintaining a low overall sugarintake that limits sugar to avoid blood sugar instability and general inflammation.
This means choosing food with natural sugars like fruit, certain dairy products, vegetables, and natural sugars.
Reducing and replacing packaged or prepared foods with added sugars, like store-bought tomato sauce, cured meats, or frozen meals.
Reducing and replacing processed foods like snack items and fast food.
Reducing restaurant food that can add sugar for flavor and appetite stimulation.
Recommended Ways
Consult a healthcare provider, dietician, or nutritionist before altering diet, physical activity, or supplement routine.
Eat More Healthy Fat
Healthy fat is more satisfying, making the body feel fuller for longer.
Not getting enough sleep negatively impacts the appetite-regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin, causing cravings for instant energy that typically comes from sugar snack products.
Individuals are recommended to get at least 7-9 hours per night. Enough sleep will balance the appetite hormones and decrease sugar cravings.
Manage Stress to Control Emotional Eating
Emotional eating is common when stressed out. Finding something to take the mind off sugar cravings is necessary when having a stressful day. This includes:
If sugar cravings are more serious, then professional help is recommended.
Drink More Water
When school, work, and life is happening, individuals can think they’re hungry; however, it is not hunger but the body needing hydration.
Drink one to two glasses of water when cravings kick in to satisfy the craving.
Drinking water throughout the day helps keep cravings down and helps with sugar withdrawal symptoms.
Individuals who have difficulty drinking water should add slices of fruit, cucumber, or mint to make it more pleasing.
Try sparkling mineral water or naturally flavored carbonated waters.
Try healthy juices, like celery, beet, or carrot juice, instead of water.
Sugar-Free Substitutes
Sugar substitutes are available, but not all are considered healthy.
Individuals should be cautious about using sugar-free alternatives to phase out sugar.
A study found that zero-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose were actually found to increase, not decrease, weight.
Stevia and monk fruit extract has been shown to be safe and has no negative side effects.
Consult a dietician or nutritionist to determine the healthiest for you.
What Happens To The Body
References
Azad, Meghan B et al. “Nonnutritive sweeteners and cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies.” CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne vol. 189,28 (2017): E929-E939. doi:10.1503/cmaj.161390
Bayon, Virginie et al. “Sleep debt and obesity.” Annals of medicine vol. 46,5 (2014): 264-72. doi:10.3109/07853890.2014.931103
DiNicolantonio, James J et al. “Sugar addiction: is it real? A narrative review.” British journal of sports medicine vol. 52,14 (2018): 910-913. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097971
Franklin, Jane L et al. “Extended exposure to sugar and/or caffeine produces distinct behavioral and neurochemical profiles in the orbitofrontal cortex of rats: Implications for neural function.” Proteomics vol. 16,22 (2016): 2894-2910. doi:10.1002/pmic.201600032
Freeman, Clara R et al. “Impact of sugar on the body, brain, and behavior.” Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition) vol. 23,12 2255-2266. 1 Jun. 2018, doi:10.2741/4704
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