Neck Pain
Neck pain is one of the most commonly searched pain conditions online. So what causes it?
As people often lean forward to take a closer look at our computer and mobile phone screens, there is A LOT of strain that is placed on their necks trying to balance their head above the rest of their body.
Many of my clients come to me with stretching exercises that they have found to be somewhat useful, but these are not long-lasting solutions. The reason is simple: stretching alone is not enough.
A holistic approach would involve 3 things: stretching, strengthening & movement.
Stretching, especially static stretching, works to relax the fibers of muscles by holding a position that lengthens the muscles. Common stretches for neck pain commonly include those for the trapezius and levator scapulae muscles.
Strengthening, on the other hand, targets the deep neck stabilizers. A common exercise for this is the chin tuck exercise.
You can find both types of exercises at this here!
Other than these two strategies, moving regularly is important to keep pain at bay. Rather than sit in a position that is known to be ergonomically perfect continuously for hours, take micro breaks every hour.
At this point, you might be thinking: I’ve heard this all before! What’s new?
Combining exercises tend to work very well when dealing with pain, especially when there is imbalance in the involved muscle group. By activating the muscle group that is weakened, the stretch reflex in the muscle group controlling the opposite movement can be activated.
One of my favourite exercises to prescribe to my clients is called the wall angel (find the video here!).
Stand and lean against the wall, keeping the back of your head, elbow and hands in contact with the wall, while lifting your hands as far up as you can. This exercise works by activating the upper back muscles and deep neck flexors to stretch out front of the neck and chest.
If you or someone you know is struggling with neck pain, contact us today. Let us get rid of your pain and get you living your best life!
