Suboccipital Muscles and Headaches
Anatomy of the Suboccipital Muscles
In this video we discuss the importance of the suboccipital muscles and how they relate to neck pain and headaches.
The cervical spine is a complex area of the body with many small muscles and nerves. The suboccipital muscles are a small group of muscle located at the base of the skull. They attach from the back of your skull to your first and second vertebrae. Many people develop tight suboccipital muscles from poor postural habits. When we sit at a desk all day and work on a computer, many of us revert to a posture that is commonly referred to as “forward head posture.” The shoulders get rounded forward, the upper back flexes over, and our head and chin jut forward slightly. This type of position places a lot of stress on the muscles and joints in the neck. When our head is forward, it puts the cervical spine in an extended position and forces our neck muscles to overwork, leading to pain and stiffness.
Tight suboccipital muscles can also lead to headaches. If you want to read more about specifically how these muscles are related to headaches, check out our article on Cervicogenic Headaches.
Suboccipital Muscle Stretch
Here is a stretch you may find useful to stretch out your suboccipital muscles.