Why Do I Constantly Get Muscle Tension In My Neck?
...And How Can I End The Pain And Soreness?
Do you often wake up with a stiff neck? Feel like you always have soreness across the shoulders? Notice you can't turn your head like you should be able to? Sometimes feel the tension going right up into your head, causing a headache? Or even find it often difficult to work on the computer or drive for a long period without having your neck tension increase?
Many people suffer from tightness, spasm or sore muscles in the neck. Often times if you feel the neck you can find hard nodules which are knots in the muscles or what I call trigger points. It is very common.
Usually the source of the problem actually stems from the neck spine and nerves in the neck. Why is this so? Well, to start, the nerves control our muscle function. If there is pressure on nerves in the neck your muscles are not getting proper communication, so they get imbalanced and don't work like they should. Next, a spine that is misaligned will not only contribute to possible direct pressure on a nerve by a spinal bone or bones misaligned but also it can create an uneven ness in the spine so that the muscles are not balanced. For example, if your spine is not straight u and down from the front to back and has a curvature to the side then the side the curve is toward has a constantly stretched and tense muscle. The opposite side will have a shortened muscle. Simply because of mechanics you may be able to tilt more to one side whereas the other side is limited.
Let's take another example of the forward head posture. From the side view our spine should have smooth flowing curves. The neck should have a C-curve of 40-60 degrees. This keeps the spinal cord relaxed and the nerves that come off it free of interference. It also allows your spine to with stand the forces of gravity at it's best. It has been shown that for each inch of forward head drift or carriage can cause 10+ more pounds of gravitational forces pressing down on you. Not to mention those muscles in the back of the neck that now have to work harder to hold the head up and in alignment.
So you can see from just two examples how misalignments can cause tension on the muscles and/or put pressure on the nerves causing pain and blocked communication of the brain and spinal cord to those muscles.
How can I get rid of this neck pain and tension?
Answer: Fix the cause - the unwanted misalignments and nerve pressure.
Get your spine treated by a Chiropractor or Osteopath. A Massage Therapist or Physical Therapist can help as well. The Chiropractor or Osteopath can adjust or manipulate the spine into it's best position. They may also use muscle stretches or trigger point release techniques as does a Massage Therapist or cervical traction, electric muscle stimulation or postural exercises that a Physical Therapist may do as well.
Be aware of your posture - remember posture is a window into your spine. If your posture reveals a forward head carriage for example then your spine has lost some of the normal curvature and is out in front of your center of gravity. Make sure your work station is ergonomically correct and also be aware of things that increase neck tension and stress.
Sleep with a good neck pillow. I recommend one with support for the normal cervical curvature (normal neck alignment).
offers a wonderful neck support pillow called the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow. Forward head posture is the most common misalignment I see. A good cervical neck pillow or cervical traction can help correct this problem without much effort at all.
So, correct the root cause - pressure on the nerves and misalignments, and you will correct the muscle soreness, tension, trigger points, and muscle pain.
Muscle Tension In Neck
A lot of people complain that their muscles are strained or are painful enough to restrict movement but they do not know the underlying cause. While there are a lot of probable causes like injuries, muscle tension is often the most likely cause especially if the pain is random and preceded by movement or a strenuous activity. If you suffer from random pain, particularly, in your neck, torso, and extremities, you are likely suffering from pain caused by muscle tension. Below are tips on recognizing and managing muscle tension:
Recognizing Muscle Tension
Some people have acquired the habit of muscle tension over many years and are so accustomed to it that they are unaware of the inappropriate contraction of their muscles. The following methods can help you recognize muscle tension:
1.Feel the difference between a relaxed and contracted muscle.
You can either flex your muscles for contraction or feel your shoulder when it feels painful and tight. Touch a soft muscle in another part of your body to feel the difference in tightness. Tensed muscles are often hard and tight while those that are relaxed feel soft and pliable.
2.Ask a partner to observe your movements.
Grace and ease of movement are the results of economy of effort with muscles contracting only when they are needed. Ask a partner to observe you for tight shoulders, neck, and ankles. You can ask a partner to do this when you are awake or even asleep since some people remain tense even when they are asleep.
3.Observe your head and shoulder muscles using a mirror.
Kneel in front of a mirror and cup your hands under your head. Lift it very gently just a little way and feel the weight of it. If the neck muscles are relaxed, the head offers no resistance. If the muscles are tensed, you will see the tendons standing out as the muscles lift the head.
4.Gage tension using your hands.
Grasp one wrist with the other hand. Grip it tightly so that your muscles show white and you are actually holding up your other hand. Feel the strength of this grip on your resting hand and release the tension to feel the difference. The fingers on the top hand are feather-light and the hand below is giving all the support.
Managing Muscle Tension
Unconscious nerve impulses maintain the muscles in a partially contracted state. These impulses cause the muscles to feel always tight or strained to the point of frequent or even persistent and ongoing pain. If you are suffering from frequent muscle tension, here are some tips on managing it:
1.Learn to recognize signs and symptoms of muscle tension.
Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of muscle tension can help you know when to apply techniques to ease it. This prevents the tension from worsening and causing even more pain.
2.Practice stress management techniques.
Stress and anxiety are often the culprits behind tension habits developed by people. Practicing stress management techniques like deep breathing, yoga, and meditation can teach you and your body to relax and reduce the tightness in your nerves and muscles.
3.Take muscle relaxants as prescribed by your doctor.
When muscle tension becomes too severe to the point of being debilitating, you may need to use a muscle relaxant. Consult your doctor to get a prescription for a muscle relaxant that is right for you.
Both Matt Bellinger & Kristine Anne are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Matt Bellinger has sinced written about articles on various topics from Build Muscle, Wellness. Dr Matt Bellinger is a Chiropractor in Connecticut. He has written many articles on how to easily and naturally relieve pain, and has helped hundred of patients in his clinic end their neck and back pain. He recommends specific pain relief and postu. Matt Bellinger's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.
Kristine Anne has sinced written about articles on various topics from Your Online Business, Fitness and Asthma. Kristine Anne Gonzaga is a content writer and researcher who specializes in health topics and health-related issues. She delights in finding tips and ideas on simple and practical healthcare and sharing them through her writing.. Kristine Anne's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
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