The Most Dangerous Scalene Triangle Stretch: RUN AWAY!

[@JesseEricksonSutton]

I have accidentally discovered this relief using this stretch laying down, but you totally confirmed that it is the best position for me with this stretch. Thank you!

[@adamroberts1338]

Glad someone is addressing this! I have TOS and when I did the sitting scalene triangle stretch for a week or so (under the guidance of multiple PT's, not to mention almost every video on TOS on KZbin), my neurogenic symptoms (tingling, numbness) became way worse. (Your views are also echoed by Dr James Stoxen in his book about TOS.) Not sure why PT's push to use this stretch so much.

[@ConstructiveMinds100]

This is crime on your body and somehow you so lightly just talk about it. 😵‍💫

[@petesangimino]

Everything he’s saying is consistent with my experience of this stretch. Thank you for making this video!

[@kushisheela9293]

Sir, so much detailing you do which is so helpful in understanding the exercise and doing it to perfection.

[@brendan12882]

Merci Monsieur Girard, you are a life saver!

[@OlivierGirard]

My pleasure, boss!! 😅

[@milanpintar]

thank you so much for your amazing knowledge

[@karynbanksley7110]

Thank you for teaching us properly and for guarding our safety while we are stretching. It is heartwarming and so refreshing to encounter a healthcare professional who actually cares about people & their well-being. Sadly, that is something that has been disappearing from the medical profession over the last 3 years, if you know what I mean.

[@ConstructiveMinds100]

Chapeau bas Olivier. Really great tips. Pure gold. ❤👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@WeAreLight05]

Great stuff

[@searchingforsigns]

Wow 😂 omg I just saw a stretch video prior to seeing yours. I'm glad I didn't close out KZbin, lol. I'll be sure and do it this way. Thank you!!!

[@OlivierGirard]

that was a sign 😬

[@paolocosmo6310]

excellent video--thank you!

[@dolphinm3639]

Thank you Olivier. Very helpful

[@rostamostmann9657]

Also you should make playlist with the body part's name. For example neck or back or leg and add all the videos related to that playlist in a logical order from a health perspective.

[@OlivierGirard]

That's something I have been struggling with indeed. I have 2 playlists, one for the upper limb (kzbin.info/aero/PLrkU7wsPQIPpPu5PEcX9SCSG0aUnBVxOG) and one for the lower limb (kzbin.info/aero/PLrkU7wsPQIPqbXKEn_FWacrsgpMgsJL3b). I would love to be more specific but people usually search by the pain they feel... and the problem is referred pain: arm pain can be related to the neck, as well as shoulder pain, etc. That's why you see me send so many people to this website before suggesting a specific video: triggerpoints.net. If you have an idea how to fix this, I'm happy to hear it!

[@karynbanksley7110]

@@OlivierGirard thank you so much for the website! Excellent info on triggerpoints! Wow!❤

[@jeanneernst4883]

This makes a lot of sense.

[@ryno_adaptfitness]

I lay supine and do the scalene stretch, by far the greatest, reduces gravitational pull in the direction of the stretch. Almost instantly the muscles relax.

[@OlivierGirard]

Precisely 👍🏼!!

[@yoganandakumar6974]

Hi i have veetigo cos of tightness in the scale muscle

[@newts1964]

Is this safe for c7 nerve compression and if you've had acdf surgery c4-5 c5-6 I've been told to do them seated

[@ilitree6267]

Great advice!

[@mathiasquetschlich7798]

Thank you so much. I am diagnosed arterial TOS. IS THIS SAFE TO DO? Even I push my shoulder and therefore my collarbone down and compress the space? I really want to detone my scalenes to lower the rips (in the long term). Also following your great FHP protocol.

[@OlivierGirard]

Hey Mathias. Stick to my FHP protocol (kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5KYqJ6Co8loaqsfeature=shared) and stay away from this sitting scalene stretch. Everything you need to know & do is in the long video :)

[@Sarathechimera]

thanks for the tip!

[@andrekrupski8372]

Thank you

[@indysuewho5411]

Have you ever heard of these muscles causing facial tingling and head pressure. Stressing these muscles is the only way I can relieve the symptoms.

[@OlivierGirard]

Hey dear. The easiest way for me to help (if I can!) would be if you'd browse through the pain patterns that are accessible from this webpage: www.triggerpoints.net/head-and-neck. Check out the areas where you feel the symptoms, and let me know if you recognize any...

[@joanbaczek2575]

Wow I just watched a physical therapist recommended the stretch you say not to do

[@OlivierGirard]

Yep, still a lot of work to do with the way colleagues advise their patients 😅

[@Charles.Foster.Offdensen]

cool. another stretch where I would have to lay on the floor which I can't do because it would literally break my back😥

[@OlivierGirard]

you can do it on the bed too... I show on the floor but both are OK ;)

[@gigilaroux762]

Have you ever heard of a TOS like situation with the C8 dermatome pattern of radiculopathy pain where a sensory nerve is affected (vs numbness and tingling and motor weakness) where in addition to a T1-T5 pain the lateral forearm hurts really bad?

[@OlivierGirard]

With herniated disc, I have seen more or less every possible combination. Not saying that this is your issue, but did you get an MRI to exclude it?

[@gigilaroux762]

@@OlivierGirard I did just get a Thoracic MRI and they said that the C6/7 nerve compression was the only issue which I have had for years and every dr blames my issue on that even though the pain is always lower than that C8-T4. I have a small hemangioma on T4 & T7-T7 been there for years, but the cord and nerves in Thoracic are otherwise perfect. Could the C6/7 really affect the nerves down lower in the T1-T4 area-that's my question. I'd hate to get a risky epidural in my neck and not have it work. I'm gonna start doing TOS exercises, maybe it will loosen it up.I'm thinking I should really get a MRNeurogram to see which nerves are affected but I have to go to NY to get that done.

[@YoutubeYoutube-rk5jj]

nerves are never a one way route, c7 may contribute to tissue responsible for innervation of the ''C8 dermatome'' too unfortunately hope your pain is better @@gigilaroux762

[@newts1964]

can poor posture cause triggerpoints

[@OlivierGirard]

Sure! It’s a major reason for creating and for perpetuating them…

[@newts1964]

@Olivier Girard - the Posture Guy thanks Olivier as I had acdf surgery four months ago can I follow the posture protocol...I get stiff neck and triggerpoints regularly and have early symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome which i definitely don't want

[@Cedi217]

Someone did this to me and now I have a ton of pain in my scalenes :( idk what to do

[@OlivierGirard]

have you tried to apply heat every 2 hrs for 1 week to see if that makes you feel better? It's just step 1 but it's a good test

[@Cedi217]

@@OlivierGirard thank you. I will give it a try. She put her hand on my shoulder and then told me to put my ear to shoulder and pushed my head and it stretched it a lot and now I’m in a ton of pain even a week later 😢 I hope it’s nothing serious

[@dziadziaj]

all great but scalenes do not insert into collar bone but to 1st and 2 rib actually they are used in forced inspiration bro

[@OlivierGirard]

Yeah I agree. Did I mention the contrary?

[@Stoffendous]

​​@@OlivierGirard2:00

[@cesartalves]

Do you find that we can still do this sitting down, so long as we keep in mind the keys points of the video, not using arm strength too much and being careful about straining the muscle? I like the sitting version sometimes bc I can more easily transition to other angles / rotations and neck stretches; but I do find the laying down version extremely good and safe!

[@nazq8i]

The scalene muscles are often tight because they are weak, so they need strengthening not stretching

[@OlivierGirard]

I know that opinions diverge on this. I don't believe in training strength in the neck muscles: this creates contraction, whilst you will never suffer from having a too relaxed neck (that's Posture Rule #2 in my book). People who say that have this reasoning: "the muscle is overused, hence the load is higher than the load-bearing capacity (so far, I agree). If I make the muscle stronger, I'm gonna fix the issue". Here, I disagree: this is valid for some muscles, but for some other (incl. neck muscles) what you should do is reduce the load, not increase the capacity. In part. by fixing forward head posture.

[@grumpyguss]

Gotta agree with Olivier on this one. When your muscles are doing more work than they should because of postural issues they get stronger and more contracted. After all, they're working out more than they should. By strengthening them, you're more likely to ratchet up the tension even more.

[@Shady-79]

@@OlivierGirard what they should do increase flexion and extension of the head

[@idanbanani7703]

@@OlivierGirard Would your answer change if there is a history of a posterior neck / thoracic outlet injury? (such as from a standing dumbell shoulder press neck spasm/hyperextension), Ain't stretching and massaging makes the scalenes weaker? (At least this is what I felt after a neck massage)