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What to Do About That Crick In Your Neck

Waking up in the morning with a crick in your neck may very well be one of the worst ways to start your day. You can blame your pillow or your quality of sleep, but all that matters now is that this stiffness and pain won’t even let you turn your head to merge into traffic as you drive to work. And it just seems to get worse as the day goes on. Here are some much-needed solutions to ease the pain and prevent that crick in the future.

THE CAUSE

While most of us assume we just slept wrong, there are many other causes of that annoying crick. You may be experiencing discomfort from an activity the day before like heavy lifting or even golf. Also, prolonged poor posture, for instance while sitting at a desk all day, can cause cramping and stiffness in your neck, but you may not notice or feel the symptoms right away. 

THE TREATMENT

The last thing any of us want to do is be patient and wait a few days for the pain to go away on its own, which it usually will. It’s always best to check with your doctor first to see what he or she recommends, but here some easy ways to at least partially alleviate the discomfort:

  1. Take over-the-counter medications that will reduce swelling
  2. Apply heat or alternate heat and ice (15-minutes each)
  3. Gently stretch in the shower with warm water massaging your neck
  4. Get a massage
  5. Visit your chiropractor

THE PREVENTION

The best news of all is that there are some things you can do to lower your risk of ever getting a crick again. Plus, maintaining good neck and spine health will do so much more than prevent pain – it will also keep your central nervous system healthy and result in better focus, energy, digestion and much more.

  1. Stretch your neck every day. Gently rotate your head, holding it on each side.
  2. Adjust your pillows and mattress. Make sure you’re using enough pillows to keep your head in line with your back and avoid awkward sleeping positions.
  3. Practice good posture at your desk job. Be conscious of the position of your head while looking at a computer. 
  4. Take frequent breaks to stretch, move around and release the tension.

 

Always consult your chiropractor or primary care physician for all your health related advice.

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