This problem in the forearm comes out of trigger points in the sternal division of the pectoralis major muscle in the chest.
Change these activities:
Avoid activities where you push your arm(s) together in front of you. This typically involves exercises like pec deck machines and chest flys. Most people don’t associate forearm pain with these movements. Hairdressers may think that it comes from handling the handwork and fail to treat the pec muscles. Tennis and other racket sports can also aggravate this condition. If you’ve recently taken up street corner accordion playing with your son, well, sorry to hear that.
For temporary relief:
Mid-sized IcyHot patches work well in the short term. Topical creams tend to produce a bothersome scent that will make your eyes water. This rubs a little under clothing and the IcyHot Patches stay on a little better than Salonpas.
Place it on your chest just above the nipple. Open your arms wide and press your shoulder blades together.
This should offer relief when you’re playing tennis, cutting hair, working out or making music with your son.
For longer-lasting relief:
This post has a breathing exercise that relaxes the chest and aligns vertebrae that create pressure on the nerves that feed the pectoralis major.
These doorway stretches are easy, convenient and effective.
The stretch that is shown in this picture, with the elbows level with the chest, best targets this trigger point.
Fish Pose, especially when the shoulder blades are squeezed tight and the head is not resting, is a great opener of the mid-chest. This picture is an advanced version. There are relaxed versions that have a block under the chest and head. If you like that, consider the breathing exercises in this post, they’re very similar and more effective.
Does another Self-Care post
better match your pain?
Here is the post about the trigger point pattern associated with these Self-Care activities.
Check out these other posts on forearm patterns.
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Tony Preston has a practice in Atlanta, Georgia, where he sees clients. He has written materials and instructed classes since the mid-90s. This includes anatomy, trigger points, cranial, and neuromuscular.
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*This site is undergoing significant changes. We are reformatting and expanding the posts to make them easier to read. The result will also be more accessible and include more patterns with better self-care. Meanwhile, there may be formatting, content presentation, and readability inconsistencies. Until we get older posts updated, please excuse our mess.
