Do you have a lot of tension in the trapezius muscle? Botox can help –

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With so many uses to benefit appearance and even depression, botulinum toxin has become the medical equivalent of a Swiss army knife. It can relax wrinkles, stop excessive sweating, and lessen painful migraine episodes. But did you know that the neurotoxin can also act as a muscle relaxant elsewhere in the body, particularly to deal with the aches and pains that come with stress? “Tension pain, for example, can be treated with botulinum toxin. When tension and stress builds up in the neck, our muscles can start to feel tense or sore. Neck pain can also spread to the shoulders. Tension in the trapezius muscle is quite common in people who work with their hands and basically anyone who sits in front of a computer. Stress, of course, causes general muscle tightness,” explains plastic surgeon Dr. Mário Farinazzo, full member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery and specialist in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). Botulinum toxin has been used for some years for chronic muscular and neuropathic pain.

This physical pain can then in turn create more anxiety which leads to further muscle constriction, which further worsens the anxiety, in a negative cycle. “This is where neurotoxin injections come in, mainly to alleviate this vicious cycle”, says the doctor. “By strategically placing neuromodulators in the muscles of the neck, shoulder and even the scalp, you can alleviate muscle tension, constriction and pain. Injection into the trapezius muscles will help back and neck pain due to tight muscles. Botulinum toxin also has the added benefit of helping to straighten posture,” says the plastic surgeon.

The Doctor. Mario explains that the therapeutic use of neurotoxin in the shoulders can lead to an improvement in posture due to the elimination of pain or anxiety induced by stress. “As we experience pain, we often adjust the way we position ourselves, move. This compensation, although intended to relieve pain, can actually make things worse, as we tend to rely excessively on certain groups of muscles to the detriment of others”, explains the doctor.

After the procedure, the doctor explains that the ideal is not to do physical exertion for a few days – mainly bodybuilding – but routine work activities are released after 24 hours. Regarding possible side effects, such as impaired muscle use, the specialist said that this treatment has minimal risks. “The benefits are improved muscle stiffness and reduced stress and the risks are really minimal. There are no published guidelines on dosing, so the main risk is that you have to come back for a second dose.”