By far the most common cause of a stiff neck is a muscle strain or soft tissue sprain. In particular, the levator scapulae muscle is susceptible to injury. Located at the back and side of the neck, the levator scapulae muscle connects the neck's cervical spine with the shoulder.
Hot and cold therapy
Using ice packs or heating pads can help relieve neck pain fast. Ice reduces inflammation, while heat relaxes stiff muscles. For best results, you may alternate the two for about 20 minutes several times a day.
Place the back of your hand against the small of your back and slide it over until your forearm is against your back. Take your other hand and place it on top of your head. Gently pull your head toward your shoulder until you feel a crack. If your neck does not crack, don't try to force it.
Voltaren Emulgel helps with the relief of localized traumatic inflammation and pain such as neck pain. Neck pain can be the result of stress, tension and poor posture and tends to affect us more as we age.
What is the best sleeping position for neck pain? Two sleeping positions are easiest on the neck: on your side or on your back. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow cushioning your head.
Your neck contains flexible muscles that support the weight of your head. These muscles can be injured and irritated from overuse and postural problems. Neck pain can also sometimes be attributed to worn joints or compressed nerves, but neck tension typically refers to muscle spasms or soft tissue injuries.
Your neck is especially prone to muscle knots. That's because many daily activities, like texting on a phone or working on a computer, can take a toll on the muscles in your neck. Knots in your neck can also form due to physical inactivity and emotional stress.
Knotted muscles will feel hard to the touch; they can be as small as a grain of rice or as large as a pebble, but they are invariably uncomfortable and tender to the touch. When you press on muscle knots, you may feel pain radiating up towards your head and down towards your scapular region and shoulders.
Usually within a week or two a muscle knot will resolve on its own. Getting a massage is one option to help speed up recovery when you have muscle knots. You can also help speed the process of recovery.
Sleeping without a pillow may help some people who sleep on their front. It can help keep the spine and the neck in alignment during sleep, easing neck and back pain. It is not a good idea for everyone, though. People who sleep on their back or side might find that sleeping without a pillow causes neck or back pain.
The results are in line with the findings of a previous study showing that increasing daily walking steps by 1000 steps reduced the risk of neck pain by 14% in those with sedentary jobs.
If you're dealing with neck discomfort, the best positions for sleep are on your back or side. These are both less stressful on your spine than sleeping on your stomach. It may be difficult to change your sleeping position, since your preferred position is often determined early in life.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which work by reducing inflammation, are typically a first line of treatment for neck stiffness and soreness. Common types of NSAIDs are ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (e.g. Naprosyn).
Some neck pain may be due to inflammation in the discs of the spine and the surrounding nerves and joints. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alleviate pain by reducing inflammation. NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, all of which are available over-the-counter.
Gently rub Voltaren into the skin using your hand. You should apply it 4 times a day for best results. Only apply to clean, dry skin that doesn't have any cuts, open wounds, infections, or rashes. Do not apply in the same area as any other medicine or products applied to the skin.
We've all seen people “crack” their necks to try to relieve pain or stiffness. When you crack your neck, the action releases gas or fluid from the joints surrounding the neck. The cracking, or cavitation, usually makes you feel better temporarily. However, it doesn't alleviate the underlying problem.
Cracking your neck should never hurt, and you should not have to force it. If cracking your neck hurts, or you have to really force your neck to crack, then you are likely doing yourself some harm. Constantly forcing your neck to crack causes damage to the abundance of blood vessels in that area of your body.
Pull your shoulder blades together for 10 seconds and then release gently. Repeat this 10 times. Roll your shoulders from the front, up over, and to the back, 10 times. Tilt your head so your ear nearly rests on your shoulder on both sides.
Unfortunately, if left untreated, the muscle tissue will continue to lose elasticity and cause postural stress that is hard to reverse. It's not all bad news and there are a lot of things you can do to treat and prevent muscle knots.