Three Ways To Deal With A Chronically Stiff Neck

Are you tired of always waking up with a stiff neck? The stiffness can make it hard to even turn your head, let alone partake in athletic activities or even type comfortably at your computer. Continuously popping pain relievers might make you feel better in the short-term, but it's not really getting to the heart of the problem. Here are three more effective ways to deal with a chronically stiff neck.

Soak in Epsom salts.

This is something you can safely and easily do at home. Fill a bath tub with warm water, and add a few handfuls of Epsom salts. Sink into the tub, being sure to immerse your neck fully in the water. Rest for about 20 minutes and then pat yourself dry. (Do not rinse the saltwater off). The magnesium in the Epsom salts can penetrate your skin and help relax your neck muscles, which will ease the stiffness and pain.

Have a friend massage you.

A massage will help loosen up the tight muscles. It will also help stimulate increased circulation, which will alleviate inflammation, which in turn further eases stiffness. While a professional massage is certainly enjoyable, you can easily have a friend massage the back of your neck. Make sure they use massage oil so their fingers can move easily over your skin. Have them start with gentle pressure and then slowly increase it. You'll want them to massage not only your neck, but also your back, since a stiff back can lead to a stiff neck if it causes you to hold your head or neck abnormally.

See a physical therapist.

There's a good chance that you strained a muscle in your neck at some point. Either it is not healed yet or when it healed you ended up with some scar tissue that's still putting pressure in the wrong places and causing you some pain. A physical therapist can evaluate the issue and show you some exercises to target that muscle, help it heal, and loosen it up. You may also be given exercises to perform throughout the days when you notice that the pain is most intense. While you might be tempted to just look up exercises online and do them, you're really best off getting the help of a professional. There are several different muscles in the neck that could be strained, and working/stretching the wrong one can do more harm than good.

In most cases, neck stiffness will ease with some Epsom salt soaks and massages. However, you should absolutely see a physical therapist if your symptoms don't improve. For more information, contact local professionals like Burgman Chiropractic Clinic PC.

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