10 Tips For Parents To Strengthen Their Relationship With Their Children
Stiff neck is quite common among people of all age groups with most of the people experiencing the problem more than once in their lifetime. It may occur due to a faulty posture, injury, sudden and jerky neck movements or more serious diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia or muscle spasm.
The most characteristic symptom of stiff neck is the inability of the affected person to turn his/her head on one side due to pain and discomfort and restricted movement. When accompanied with other symptoms such as, fever, headache, nausea, and sensitivity to light, it usually indicates a more serious underlying health issue, which may need immediate medical attention.
Though most of the cases of stiff neck develop due to faulty habits and can be easily prevented, it is important to identify the cause, as stiff neck can also occur due to serious diseases such as meningitis and other infections as well.
The shortened muscles of the shoulder and neck causing the stiffness can be relaxed by gentle traction to stretch the neck. Stretching relieves the stiffness and provides instant relief from the pain.
However, stretching the neck muscles should be practiced only after the pain has subsided considerably and the patient is not under acute pain.
Simple neck exercises such as, rotating the neck in both the directions, clockwise and anticlockwise are quite effective in improving neck movement and reducing muscle spasm and pain.
These exercises not only help in stretching the neck muscles but also improve the muscle strength and endurance.
A hot press would increase the blood flow to the affected area, thereby providing immediate relief from muscle stiffness and preventing them from going into a spasm. A cold press on the other hand, reduces the inflammation and has a soothing effect on the sore muscles.
Ideally, a cold pack should be applied within the first 48-72 hours following a stiff neck to reduce inflammation and later on switching to a hot pack for faster recovery. In both the cases, care should be taken to avoid direct contact of the skin with a too hot or too cold compress.
A relaxing massage can do wonders in treating a stiff neck.
Photo Credit: Apromix.hu/szabolcs-szatmar-bereg/Masszazstanfolyam-Nyiregyhazan-499865.htm
It releases the tension in the muscles and with appropriate pressure on the trigger points is quite effective in soothing stiff and sore neck muscles.
How to get rid of stiff neck
Top Eight Neck Exercises for Neck Pain
Neck Tension
A correct posture means even distribution of the body weight on either foot when standing straight up. Slouched or slumped shoulders often thrust the head a bit too far from the front of the body, putting undue pressure on the muscles of the neck.
The unnecessary strain and shortening of the neck muscles is the primary cause of stiff neck and can be easily avoided by maintaining a good posture at all times.
Applying a pain relief ointment can keep the affected area warm and reduce muscle stiffness, while gradually facilitating easier neck movement. Muscle rubs or balms are also quite popular as they provide low-cost immediate relief from stiff neck.
A physician would normally prescribe painkillers for a stiff neck which is accompanied by excruciating pain. The painkillers are usually prescribed for short term relief and should not be taken on a routine basis as they might bring on serious side effects with them.
A stiff neck resulting due to more serious diseases may need medication to treat the underlying cause of the condition.
According to the oriental medicine, pressing the acupressure point on the neck can provide effective pain relief and relieve muscle stiffness. When practiced in combination with some healing herbs, acupressure has been found to be quite effective in treating a stiff neck.
Yoga practitioners revel in its effectiveness in treating common ailments. Yoga helps in improving posture and maintains a healthy mental and physical balance. Breathing exercises are also quite effective in reducing stress and tension which could also be a possible cause of stiff muscles.
Photo Credit: Stiffnecksorethroat.com/get-rid-of-a-stiff-neck/
Add Your Buzz Here