“What a pain in the neck!” is often used as a humorously mild insult to somebody who is a pest. But when that pain is real it’s no laughing matter. It doesn’t matter if it only happens once in a while, or on a more frequent basis, when you have that kind of pain you want to know how to relieve tight neck muscles.
The good news is that are things you can do to get rid of the tension in your neck. As a caution though, if the pain won’t go away or if it’s a chronic problem, then you should go see your doctor to discuss your concerns.
The first step to relief is to look at your habits. For example, if you sit at a desk all day and bend your head down slightly to look at your computer, that can cause a stiff neck. Having good posture will go a long way toward preventing the problem. Try to avoid staying in any one position for long periods of time.
Stress is often one of the main culprits in having tightness in the neck; therefore reducing stress will help bring relief. Imagine a calming scene and take a few slow, deep breaths when you start to feel stressed. Meditation is an effective way to train yourself to stay calm, and that will keep you from getting tense as often.
A nice warm bath with Epsom salts is an excellent stress reliever that will loosen up your muscles and have you feeling relaxed. Light a few scented candles and put on some soft music (this goes for all you guys, too!) to feel even more relaxed as the cares of the day melt away.
It’s hard to beat a good massage to relieve tight neck muscles. You can go to a massage therapist for that professional touch, or you can enlist a friend or loved one to give you a good rub down. There are also massage devices such as pillows and rollers that you can use when nobody is around to lend a hand.
Note: Before you try any exercises to relieve tight neck muscles, it is critical that you make sure you are using smooth and gentle movements. You should never overstretch your neck, and jerky motions could make the problem worse.
Exercises are a great way to relieve tight neck muscles. You can start with a slow and gentle tilting of the head from one side to the other. Stop as soon as you feel any strain. This is meant to be relaxing, not painful.
Some people like to visit a chiropractor when they experience pain in the neck. Even though some people in the medical field scoff at chiropractors, most do agree that they are good at relieving pain in the back and neck. Patients of chiropractors are often amazed at the results after just a few visits.
As you can see, there are plenty of options that you can use to relieve tight neck muscles.