The neck is a complex body part. It does the very important job of supporting the weight of our head. The neck is made up of vertebrae that extend from the skull to the upper torso. Some people might experience occasional neck pain or stiffness and this could be due to various reasons like poor body posture or overusing the neck. An injury from a fall can also cause neck pain.
What are some of the ways which you can adopt to ease your neck pain and tension?
- Good posture
People nowadays use the computer and mobile phone a lot and we tend to have bad body posture when using these electronic devices. When we are at work, most of us are slouching in our chair and if we are using our mobile devices we are constantly hunched over. This can cause a lot of pressure on our neck and shoulders. Always remember to keep your back straight with your shoulders and ears aligned. If you are using your mobile phone, remember to prop your device at your eye level so as to minimize strain on your neck.
- Neck Exercises
You can do some neck rotation while standing or sitting down. Just keep your back straight and gently flex your neck in clockwise direction. You can also slowly tilt your neck to both sides and then front and back. These neck exercises help to reduce the tension in our neck and loosen up the neck muscles.
- Sleep Well
Bad sleeping positions can also cause neck ache. Choose a pillow with good neck support. You can find some special neck pillows in the departmental stores. Never sleep on your stomach as by doing so, you will end up twisting your head one way or the other. Sleeping on your stomach will not let your lower back have the support it requires.
- Heat Therapy
Blood vessels expand and blood circulation improves when you apply heat to your neck and shoulder area. This increased blood flow provides oxygen and nutrients to your affected area and promotes healing.