Almost all of us have suffered from sudden neck pain at some point. But there’s no need to panic – neck pain is rarely a sign of something serious. Most of the time, it comes from being locked in an awkward position for too long.
Follow these 5 easy steps to find relief.
- Stretch carefully. There are twenty muscles in your neck alone, so it’s important to keep them supple. Try gently raising your chin to the ceiling. After a few moments, slowly lower your chin to your chest. Repeat this cycle for around thirty seconds, or for as long as feels good. If your neck is hurting too much for this, try gently nodding and shaking your head. This will free the tight muscles and stop them from seizing up further. If you feel like your neck could do with some more movement, follow this link to find additional exercises.
- Find your pressure points. Find a sore spot and knead it gently but firmly with your fingertips or knuckle. It might hurt a bit, but it shouldn’t be unbearable – if you feel a twinge that seems to get better the more you massage it, carry on. Try turning your head to the opposite side of where the pressure point is, which will help to stretch the muscles at the same time.
- Drink water. Dehydration is a surprisingly common cause of neck pain. When you don’t drink enough, your muscles and ligaments become tighter, making you feel stiff and uncomfortable. Carry a water bottle with you and make an effort to drink from it regularly. If you want to learn more about staying hydrated, read our blog post all about it.
- Have a break from technology. Looking down at your phone or laptop for long periods of time puts strain on your neck and can also contribute to headaches.
- Try using an extra pillow. This will take most of the pressure off your neck when you lie down. Make sure it’s supporting both your neck and your head. However, don’t use so many pillows that your head is raised at a sharp slope, as this might aggravate your neck pain.
If you’re worried about neck pain, don’t hesitate to book in with us. We’re always happy to help.