Many of us have or will experience neck pain at some point in our lives. Generally, neck pain does not indicate a serious problem and should resolve within a matter of days. That said, it can be incredibly tiresome to deal with, and may stop you from being able to complete your day-to-day tasks. Here, we dive into the common causes of neck pain, and how you can avoid it.
Poor Posture
The muscles, ligaments and bones of your neck support your head and allow it to move. When imbalances, inflammation or injury occur, neck pain or stiffness can ensue. Poor working or sitting postures are a common cause of neck pain. This is because it puts extra pressure on the joints and muscles. If you work in an office, it is common to sit many hours a day slouched over your computer. Likewise, you may strain your neck while using devices like your mobile for long periods of time.
Sleeping In An Awkward Position
The wrong sleeping position can cause sharp neck tension the next day. In particular, lying on your stomach with your head turned to breathe can risk straining your neck. This position should therefore be avoided if you want to prevent neck pain.
Injury Caused By Muscle Strain Or Whiplash
An injury caused by a rear-end collision is often called a whiplash injury. Motor vehicle crashes, even minor ones, will likely strain the structure of the neck. The neck pain is often accompanied by headaches and stiffness in the neck. It is also possible to feel light-headed or unsteady with a whiplash injury. Recovery for this kind of injury will generally take a few weeks to a few months, under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Wear & Tear
As part of the normal aging process, our bodies will experience wear and tear. This can put us at increased risk of neck pain the older we get. While some neck pain is normal, it can be highly uncomfortable and distressing to experience regularly. To improve quality of life, working with a qualified specialist is an excellent idea.
Tension
With many of us jumping from one task to the next, it’s common to feel highly stressed. This stress can cause us to subconsciously tense our muscles – especially those around the neck. If you think this may be an issue for you, practising restorative exercises found in yoga or pilates may help. Additionally, simply performing a few deep breathing exercises throughout the day can reduce your stress levels, which may also help to reduce your tension.
Wry Neck
Wry neck is common to children and adolescents. It occurs when the neck temporarily becomes stiff and painful. Turning the head and looking up or down may cause acute pain. It can cause one or both sides of the neck to spasm. This may cause pain to be felt from the top of the neck to the shoulder blade. The pain may even travel to the top of the shoulder. Applying heat and passive joint mobilisation can help to loosen joints and reduce muscle spasm and pain.
Experiencing neck pain is common, but that doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable. It can stop you from getting through your day-to-day activities and can lead to significant distress. If you feel you need help managing your neck pain, our team of qualified experts would love to support you. At BodyViva, we adopt a holistic approach to managing pain. Feel free to explore our services today, or get in touch with our friendly team.
