Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Headache Pain: What Easy Little Stretches Benefit Your Entire Body?
What’s one of the best things we can do for our bodies? Stretch. Our. Necks. Why? One reason is that they are connected to the mother-ship of our bodies, our heads. Our heavy heads create a load and weight which creates a stiffness in our neck. this stiffness then leader to painful headaches which could’ve been avoided through stretching. The neck also connects to your shoulder and lifts it up.
"This means that stiff necks lead to shoulder pain which can also affect posture, mood, emotion, self confidence, and self-worth."
Overall, pain or no pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, any reason, everyone should take a couple minutes out of their day to do beneficial some neck stretches. Here are three important stretches to help jump start your recovery and relief.
The first stretch is called nose to armpit stretch or we like to call it, the smell your armpit stretch. First, tilt your face to a 45 degree angle to one side while looking down towards your armpit. You should feel stretch in the muscle from the opposite side of your neck. If you need more of an intense stretch, use your hand to help with stretch. Hold it for 3o seconds and relax then switch to the other side and repeat.
Stretch number two is called the ear to shoulder stretch. You should bend your neck in a direction where you are bringing one ear to its correlating shoulder. One thing to remember during this stretch is to keep both shoulders rested down.This will help promote the stretch as it should be felt on the opposite side on the upper trap muscles. You can also your hand(s) to help with the stretch. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds, switch to the opposite side, bring your ear to the shoulder, hold for thirty seconds, then relax.
The third and final stretch is a scaling stretch called the angel stretch, or we like to call it, there’s a spider on the ceiling stretch. First turn and look towards a 35 degree angle on your side of choice. Then tilt you head back directly. You can use your hand(s) to hold down your collar bones to help feel the stretch on the front of the opposite side of your neck. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds, relax, and then repeat on the opposite side.
And you’re done! Those are three neck stretches that everyone should do to help improve headaches, shoulder pain, posture, and mood. Do them twice a day to gain relief and better mobility than before.
Lilly Physical Therapy values every aspect to health and wellness. Neck and shoulder pain can cause a multitude of problems including mood and posture. Come in and make an appointment today to stop your pain and be the best version of yourself!
425.224.2476
Picture Bibliography
Picture 1: http://nutritionallywealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/neck-pain-and-rounded-shoulders.jpg
Picture 2: http://riverviewchirohealth.webs.com/photos/Stretches/Levator%20Scapulae.JPG
Picture 3: http://media3.onsugar.com/files/2013/03/11/3/192/1922729/e43df54292214169_stretch.preview.jpg
