06/16/2026
Hello Infrahyoids! 👋
Do you spend hours looking down at a computer, tablet, or cell phone? Have you ever experienced whiplash? Do you frequently clear your throat, or have difficulty finding a comfortable head position? Then you may want to ask your trusted massage therapist to address your anterior neck.
The infrahyoids are a group of four muscles that live beneath the hyoid bone: the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid. They help stabilize and lower the hyoid bone and larynx during swallowing, speaking, breathing, and neck movement. While they may not get the attention of larger neck muscles, they quietly influence the mechanics of the throat, jaw, tongue, voice, and cervical spine every single day.
Modern life asks a lot of these muscles. Every time we look down at a phone, lean toward a computer screen, hunch over a steering wheel, or spend hours with our head carried in front of our body, the tissues along the front of the neck adapt. Over time, the infrahyoids can become shortened, guarded, or overworked as they try to support structures that were never meant to live in a forward position all day long.
Whiplash can have an even greater impact. During a collision, the neck experiences rapid acceleration and deceleration forces that affect not only the muscles in the back of the neck but also the delicate tissues in the front. Clients often focus on the upper traps and neck extensors after an injury, while the anterior neck is often overlooked. Yet these muscles frequently become protective, tender, and restricted after trauma, contributing to altered swallowing mechanics, voice changes, throat tightness, jaw dysfunction, and persistent cervical discomfort.
As bodyworkers, we often approach these muscles with gentleness and respect. By understanding the locations of the trachea, carotid arteries, jugular veins, and the surrounding anatomy, we can safely access the soft tissues surrounding the hyoid and laryngeal structures. The goal is not force. It is restoring glide, reducing guarding, improving mobility, and helping the neck remember how to move with ease again.
Many clients are surprised by how much relief can come from addressing this region. Improved neck mobility, reduced jaw tension, easier swallowing, decreased throat tightness, and a greater sense of ease in the front of the body are common responses.
And if you enjoy exploring the body's more symbolic side, this area is often associated with communication and self-expression. Whether you view that through anatomy, psychology, or energy work, many people notice that the front of the throat becomes remarkably tender during seasons when they are holding back words, swallowing emotions, or carrying stories that have not yet been spoken.
