If you’re experiencing neck pain, you’re not alone. Between 20% and 70% of adults in the US will experience neck pain that’ll disrupt some aspects of their lives. Few things are quite as unpleasant as incessant neck pain, especially when nothing seems to make it go away. For many people, common treatments like ice pads, painkillers, and ointments that work for other types of pain are ineffective for their neck pain.
We’re here to help with the following pain relief solutions for your neck and shoulders.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Most cases of acute neck and shoulder pain are a result of tendon and muscle strains or ligament sprains. These strains and sprains may talk a few days or weeks to heal.
Other common causes of neck pain include:
Trauma: Physical trauma such as whiplash from an accident or a sports injury can cause neck and shoulder pain.
Awkward sleeping positions: If you sleep without proper head and neck support, you’re likely to suffer from neck pain.
Poor posture: Hunching or slouching for extended periods can place extra stress on your neck which can result in neck strain or ligament sprains. It’s a good idea to be aware of your posture when working or using digital devices.
Repetitive motions: Repetitive neck motions, such as those involved with dancing, swimming, or certain sports, can result in the overuse of the neck muscles and neck pain.
Other causes of the neck pain, such as cervical spondylosis have nothing to do with the muscles, tendons, or ligaments. In these cases pain may be caused by gradual spinal degeneration.
Regardless of the cause of your neck pain, the following methods may reduce your discomfort.
How To Relieve Neck Pain
Nagging neck pain can be extremely exasperating, but next time you’re struggling with neck pain, try one of these solutions to ease your pain.
1. A Neck-Supporting Chair
As mentioned above, poor posture is a major cause of neck pain for many people. If you’re struggling with neck pain because of poor posture, you should consider getting a neck-supporting chair. These specialty chairs have a special headrest that helps keep your spine in a neutral position to ensure proper posture.
Rest the back of your head centrally on the headrest, ensuring that your ears are always above your shoulder. It may also help to use a headrest whenever available, such as on your recliner or in your car, to help relax your neck muscles
2. Take a Swim
A short dip in the pool can go a long way in easing your neck and shoulder pain. Swimming is an excellent low-intensity exercise that does wonders for your neck. The buoyancy of water decreases stress on the neck and spine.
However, it’s worth noting that not all swimming exercises are good for your neck; some may even worsen your neck pain. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor or physical therapist in advance.. Your doctor will recommend the best swimming routines for your neck and shoulder issues.
3. Use a therapeutic pillow
Cervical Neck pillows provide relief by supporting the spine and relieving pressure from your back, neck, head, and shoulders.
Is Neck Pain Preventable?
We’ve highlighted remedies to address your neck pain, but prevention is the best medicine. See below to learn how to prevent neck pain before it starts.
1. Sleep on Your Back
Sleeping on your back allows your spine to relax and eases stress on your neck muscles. However, for most people, this is easier said than done. If you are like many people, you may find that sleeping on your side is more comfortable , but that can exacerbate your neck pain if you are not using the proper pillow.
2. Keep Your Neck Strong and Flexible
How often do you exercise and stretch your neck? If you’re like many overworked Americans, the answer is likely “not often.” However, making time each day to perform a few simple stretches can help strengthen the neck muscles and increase their tolerance to stress.
3. Drink Plenty of Water
Believe it or not, staying well hydrated actually helps prevent neck and shoulder pain. Drinking plenty of water during the day helps hydrate the spinal discs between the vertebrae in your neck.
Keeping hydrated helps the discs remain strong and flexible, reducing neck stiffness and pain.
Kiss Your Neck Pain Goodbye
Now that you know how to relieve (or prevent!) neck pain, you’re ready for better sleep and more energetic days. To that end, a comfortable neck pillow is an investment that’ll save you years of neck pain and stiffness. Check out our range of signature pillows, and get rid of your neck pain once and for all.
The post How to Relieve Neck Pain: 3 Ways to Relieve (And Prevent) Neck and Shoulder Pain appeared first on PILLO1.
