The neck is one of the most important parts of our body – intricate and strong, yet fragile, there are an amazing 21 joints in our neck along with complex muscles and ligaments. It’s a miracle of engineering, but plenty can go wrong.
Neck pain is caused by many things including an inappropriate pillow or mattress, osteoarthritis, sports injury, strain from repetitive work, car accidents, and more. At Elite Akademy we’re seeing more neck pain from posture-related issues.
Neck pain may be difficult to diagnose because tightness in the neck joints and discs can cause injury further down the chain – this means there is potential for neck pain to present as other injuries such as back pain or shoulder pain. A thorough assessment, which checks the muscles, nerves and ligaments, is necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
To avoid neck pain, pay attention to the following:
The neck is one of the most common areas where poor posture can impact your body.
We’re seeing more problems which stem from ‘seated posture’, which is particularly bad for neck pain. We tend to crane our neck forward when using laptops, smartphones and other devices, which puts us out of alignment and results in stiffness and pain.
Anybody can improve their posture by making small changes. The key is to establish some cues, which remind you to stand or sit ‘tall’. For example: whenever you check your phone, sit tall (studies have found people check their phone 60-80 times per day); similar with checking email. Before you open up the emails ‘grow tall’ in the seat; team up with someone, a partner who also wants to work on their posture. Together, you can support and remind each other to stand or sit tall.
On the all-important seated posture, remember:
Spending too much time sitting down, and too little time being active, is a recipe for neck pain.
We are 70 per cent water and need regular movement to naturally lubricate our joints, preventing stiffness and pain. Without activity your joints stiffen, your muscles contract and you lose strength in core muscle groups. Regular exercise can keep you strong
While inactivity is particularly relevant for over-60s, I have treated people of all ages, including people in their 20s, suffering from preventable neck pain and headaches due to inactivity and spending too much time on the computer.
The key is to keep moving – even if you are suffering from pain, being able to move as regularly as possible, within tolerable pain levels, is vital. Ideally, you stay healthy with a routine blending low, medium and high intensity exercise.
This can be hugely challenging, and it’s recommended anyone suffering from osteoarthritis see an expert for diagnosis and treatment.
But beware certain traps like relying too much on painkilling drugs, which only provide temporary relief. Osteoarthritis is complex, but there is potential for improvement by staying active, exercising and moving often.
Finally, here are some top exercises and stretches for neck pain (only move within tolerable levels of pain. If the pain is too much, then see an expert):