If you have a stiff neck you might be looking for fast relief. As is often the case, a stiff neck can lead to other problems, including tension headaches and even a dreaded migraine. Fortunately, you can find relief by trying a few simple remedies.
Here are some ways, including an unusual stretch that helps you relieve a stiff neck in only 90 seconds.
What Causes Neck Stiffness?
The cause of a stiff neck boils down to one of five causes. A muscle sprain or strain can occur when you sit or sleep wrong. Certain cervical spine disorders can also cause your neck to become stiff. Bacterial infections, such as meningitis, can also contribute to a stiff neck. Injury and arthritis are the other two common causes of a stiff neck. Luckily, you have some treatment options when dealing with a stiff neck.
Tricks to Help With Muscle Pain
Applying magnesium oil to the stiff muscle can help relieve stiffness. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer and helps to relieve tight, sore, and cramped muscles by controlling contractions within the muscle tissue following exercise, injury, or anything else that can make your muscles stiffen up.
Soaking in a hot bath that has Epsom salt dissolved in the water is said to help with muscle stiffness. The reasoning behind this is that the salts contain magnesium sulfate, and just like magnesium oil, can help relax the muscles. And while some experts disagree, soaking in an Epsom salt infused bath has been a remedy for sore and stiff muscles for a long time, so it must have some effect.
This Neck Stretch Helps Relieve Muscle Stiffness
If Epsom salt and magnesium oil are not your thing, then you can use this stretching exercise to find relief. Taking as little as 90 seconds, these series of stretches help to relief stiff muscles within the neck caused by sitting or sleeping wrong. If you have an injury, make sure to seek the advice of a doctor before pursuing any relief method or you might do more harm than good.
Step 1: Start by turning your head to the side that is sore or stiff until you can feel the pain. Next, take the fingers of the opposite hand and push into the muscle. While pushing into the muscle, turn your head as far as you can. Finally, while turning your head, pull your fingers across the fiber of the muscle and toward the front of your neck for five or sick seconds. Start high on the muscle and work your way down.
Step 2: Another stretch you can do is to grasp the top of your head with the hand opposite of the painful side of your neck. Turn your head 45 degrees to the side that hurts and pull your head down and to the right with your hand. Hold your head in this way for 15 to 20 seconds. Next, pull down even more, if possible, and hold it for another 15 to 20 seconds. Repeat, but while looking straight.
Step 3: Finally, tackle the hand on the same side of the neck as the pain and form a fist. Place the knuckles of your fist into the muscle and lean over the fist with your head. Allow the knuckles of your fist to dig comfortably into the muscle. For more on these techniques, check out the video below.
