Technical Tuesday Sternocleidomastoid
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) is one of the most fascinating
muscles in the body. It is actually a two-part muscle, with one on each side of
the neck. Each one is thick and narrow
in the center, and wider and thinner at each end. These muscles begin behind
the ears and move down to the front of the neck. The SCM assists in rotating
the head from side to side, and also allows the head to incline. This is
critical for ballet dancers, to say the least! But wait, there’s more!
The sternocleidomastoid allows the neck to flex and turn and
without it cambrés and backbends would be impossible. If this isn’t enough, it
also acts as an accessory muscle of respiration –whew! You can see and feel the SCM when you turn
your head all the way to the side.
The SCM is not a frequently injured muscle in dancers, since
overuse pain is usually caused by looking up for too long (painting a ceiling
or staring at the stars), etc. But if it does become inflamed, symptoms can
include things like headaches or dizziness.
The next time you admire a dancer’s lovely epaulement,
remember to thank the ability of that fun-to –pronounce muscle, the sternocleidomastoid.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Anatomical Secret #25p
“The sternocleidomastoid is
one of the most fascinating muscles in the body.”
Link of the Day:
Quote of the Day:
“The
brain is like a muscle. When it is in use we feel very good. Understanding is
joyous.”
― Carl Sagan
― Carl Sagan
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