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In a message dated 97-05-20 15:39:48 EDT, Gray writes: << Can someone help me with comments on neck and shoulder cramps? That is my most difficult symptom to deal with at this point. >> Ah, I knew this was coming. The hand of the Almighty reaching through the internet to tap me on the shoulder and make me finish the article I am writing on the scalene muscles. I never knew the Almighty's name was Gray, though..... Yes to 1, 2 and 3. The scalenes live in the posterior triangle of the neck. This is not in the back of the neck (of course not, that would only make sense), but in the lateral section of the front of the neck. For a non-gory drawing of them, go to http://www.sechrest.com/mmg/ctd/thorax.gif These are not the only culprits in the forward-head-posture scenario, but they are major players. Janet Travell, et al, calls them The Entrappers because they entrap the brachial plexus (complex of nerves that come out from between several neck vertebrae, "make spaghetti" and then branch off down the arm and side). Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occur, in part, because of chronic overtightness in the scalenes. Very importantly, because of where they attach at either end, they have two actions that can contribute to two PD complaints. They (there are three, plus an itty bitty one) attach above to the fronts of the cervical vertebrae (C1-C6). They attach below to the first and second ribs. When the bottom attachments are fixed on both sides of the front of the body, the contraction of the scalenes contributes to bringing the head forward. There are times, of course, when you want your head forward, but not as a chronic posture. This puts a great deal of stress on the muscles in the back of the neck and upper shoulder girdle. One of their jobs is to hold your head on top of your vertebral column and having something tugging the head forward makes them work overtime. When the scalene muscles are fixed above and everything is moving healthily, contraction of them elevates the top of the rib cage so we can all take full, chest-up-and-out breaths. When they are in spasm or prolonged contracture they can lead to a stiff, compressed neck. Both situations negatively affect the depth and pattern of breathing. Less than optimal breathing is one way PWPs manage to get sick. That is a too-simplistic sentence, but I'm tired. I hope it suffices that this posture leads to dysfunctional biomechanics which can lead to weaknesses leading to illness. Appropriate massage therapy can do wonders for releasing the scalenes and the other contributors to stiff necks and forward head posture. Find someone who does fascial release (sometimes termed myofascial release or structural bodywork). I have a list of over 20,000 massage therapists and may be able to help you locate someone. There are some very good stretches to do for stiff neck and forward head posture. I will try to take a nap and then write a description of them on a later post. There are also nutritional components to relieving muscle contracture. See second sentence in the paragraph above. My nonexistent, phantom, whimsical, imaginary article has been accepted for publication -- without a deadline. That's the problem. When it is complete I will share it with you (have to check with my editor about copyright --I'll ask him if it's all right for me to infringe myself). Deanne Charlton [log in to unmask] ps. Gray, Your suboccipital muscles are also possibly tight. If you talk with bodyworkers, ask if they are familiar with these, are trained to treat them, and have success when they do.