Most people suffer from pain and tension in their necks and shoulders at some time in their lives, which is hardly surprising if you consider the job the neck has to do!
Poor posture, bad working positions, and carrying heavy bags all conspire to make the problem worse. However, you can ease the pain with a remedy literally at your fingertips….have a neck massage!
Remedial massage can be helpful in treating specific areas of muscle tension caused by stress or injury. The therapy also helps to get the blood flowing to injured tissues to speed up the repair process.
Some of the more common causes of chronic pain where Remedial Massage can be of help are Tension Headaches, Stress, Repetitive strain injuries, Muscle sprains and strains, Bad Posture, Sporting injuries, and accidental injuries.
Triggers for the onset of neck muscle strain can be traced to several common activities that strain the neck anatomy, such as:
- Too much time in an awkward position, such as hunched over a steering wheel while driving, hunched forward to view a computer monitor, or cradling a phone in the crook of the neck.
- Sleeping in a position that strains the neck, such as with a pillow that is too high or too firm.
- Carrying a heavy suitcase or other object on one side of the body
- Any form of trauma that impacts the neck, such as from whiplash in a car accident, or from a fall in which one lands on the top of the head.
Remember that after a neck strain/sprain, the muscles in the neck will often become tight, guarding the affected area and limiting motion and mobility.
Anything that can be done to safely alleviate muscle tension, improve range of motion, and promote blood circulation to the affected area, is going to help the healing process.
A neck sprain refers to an injury to a ligament, while a neck strain is a muscle injury—a pulled muscle. These two terms are often used interchangeably (and incorrectly) when describing neck pain. When a neck strain occurs as a result of a specific injury, athletes and coaches might simply refer to it as a jammed neck.
A strained neck might be classified as an acute injury, but a neck ache seems to be a chronic, off-and-on problem for many athletes as they get older. But regardless of what you call it and how often it occurs, “a pain in the neck” is serious enough to limit participation in sports, but very treatable in most cases.