Sign Up for a Free Account

This is an image preview.
Start a Free Account
to view the full image.

Sign Up for a Free Account For information on discounts, see Plans & Pricing

  • Nearly 3,000 illustrations, including video clips of neurologic disorders.

  • Every article is reviewed by our esteemed Editorial Board for accuracy and currency.

  • Full spectrum of neurology in 1,200 comprehensive articles.

  • Listen to MedLink on the go with Audio versions of each article.

Myofascial pain patterns of the levator scapulae muscle

Trigger points (x's) within the levator scapulae are one of the most common causes of stiff neck and limited neck rotation due to pain on movement. Essential (solid red) and spillover (stippled red) referred pain from these trigger points project pain to the angle of the neck, the vertebral border, and inferior angle of the scapula, and to the shoulder posteriorly. (From: Travell JG, Simons DG. Myofascial pain and dysfunction, levator scapulae muscle, the trigger point manual. Volume 1. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1983:335, with permission.)

Related Media

Associated Disorders

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Greater occipital neuralgia
  • Piriformis syndrome
  • Postexercise muscle soreness
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Whiplash