5 Tips for Easing a Stiff Neck
A stiff neck is not a serious medical condition but it can
disturb your daily activities. Many people experience it at least once in their
lifetime. A stiff neck is painful and creates difficulties while moving your
head. It is characterized by soreness and difficulty in moving the neck. It may
be accompanied by a headache, neck pain, shoulder pain, and arm pain.
Try these simple remedies to gain relief:
1. Use Cold Therapy
Applying cold packs to your neck
can relieve the pain by limiting the build-up of lactic acid. Ice can numb the
pain and also reduce inflammation.
2. Use heat therapy
If you do not get relief within 48
hours after using the cold compress, try heat therapy.
Heat therapy is a very useful
method as it relaxes the tightened muscles and increases the blood flow,
leading to a decrease in the stiffness of the neck. A hot water shower is also
good for this ailment.
3. Daily Massage
A massage is another way to relax
your neck muscles and get rid of the pain. You can use essential oils like
rosemary, lavender, pine, or juniper for massaging the affected area. The
massage provides warmth to the neck muscle and also increases the flow of
blood. Hold your neck with your thumb on one side and fingers on the other and
gently massage the affected area. Gentle massaging helps in relaxing the
muscles and reduces the stiffness.
4. Regular Exercise
The benefits of regular exercise
are hard to ignore. Neck exercise can help you a lot. You can practice
tension-releasing exercises to get relief from a stiff neck. Isometric neck
exercises can be performed without moving the neck.
5. Practice relaxation and breathing techniques
Emotional stress can cause muscle
tension. You can manage the stress through relaxation and breathing techniques
like progressive relaxation, abdominal breathing, meditation, yoga etc. Engage
yourself in one of these activities to reduce your stress levels. These routines
will help you calm down and will relax your nerves and muscles.
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