Main Tips to Prevent Neck Pain
Most people do not know that what they are doing every day can be exacerbating their neck pain. The most common way of aggravating neck pain is the way we carry ourselves. In some cases, neck pain can be a symptom of a more serious health problem.
Neck pain can be accompanied by loss of strength in your hands and arms. It can also cause shooting pain into your shoulder and/or numbness. The problem with your neck generally occurs from muscles, ligaments, and tendons, which are commonly referred to as the soft tissues. We have created a list of the most important tips that should help you avoid neck pain.
Correct your posture
In the majority of cases, the main cause of neck pain is our posture. It seems very simple but in reality, it is not. Try to control the way you carry yourself on an everyday basis. In other words, you need to keep your head balanced directly over your spine and not leaning back or forward to one side. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet, feet hip-width apart, and arms hanging loosely at either side.
Try to change your pillow
In some cases, the cause of a nack pain could be your pillow. It simply means that your current pillow does not work for you. There are many options to select from when choosing a pillow. Usually, it is trial and error before you choose the one that works the best for you. However, keep in mind that there is a general rule for selecting the right pillow. Make sure to use a pillow that keeps your spine in a neutral position, which means that the natural curve of your neck is maintained and supported.
Sleep on your back if possible
It is a well-known fact that sleeping on your back is the best way to let your entire spine rest comfortably. But the majority of people change their position during their sleep. Thus, if you cannot sleep on the back, make sure to place the pillow not too high so it can prevent your head and neck from turning to either side.
Stretch and exercise your neck
In order to keep your neck muscles strong, neck specialists advise doing sets of strengthening exercises during the day. By doing so, you will be able to strengthen the muscles that pull the head into alignment over the shoulders.
Eliminate the amount of time spent texting
Nowadays, it is almost impossible to imagine our life without a cell phone. Despite this fact, it is highly important to control the amount of time that we spend on our cell phones. Texting for a long period of time puts a huge strain on the neck. If your work or any other circumstances prevent you from spending less time texting, try to raise your mobile device to eye level.
Drink more water
Water is also an important component that could help to prevent neck pain. Water hydrates and nourishes the discs. Due to the fact that the discs consist mostly of water, staying well hydrated will allow them to be strong and pliable.
Evenly distribute carried weight
A lot of people are used to carrying heavy bags on one side of their body. This can lead your shoulders to become uneven, straining your neck muscles. Try to spread the weight evenly and keep your shoulders level when carrying heavy bags. You can also consider using a backpack as it distributes the weight evenly across both of your shoulders.
Most neck problems can be fixed with home treatment. However, you will have to seek for neck specialist if your neck pain is severe and continues for several days without relief. You will also need help from a neck doctor if the neck pain spreads down arms and legs and is accompanied by headache or weakness.
