Chiropractic + Neck Exercises = A Happy Neck

By Krista Elliott

Neck pain is extremely common among adults. Whether your neck pain is caused by age-related degeneration or by a bad case of "text neck" (or in some cases, both), there's no doubt that a sore neck can interfere with your daily activities. A lot of people figure that their only two options are to take pain medications every day, or to just tough it out. 

As it turns out, there are much better options. And the best option of all is the dynamic duo of chiropractic care combined with neck-strengthening exercises. 

A Potent Combination

As a general rule, we humans don't have perfectly aligned spines that are effortlessly maintained throughout our lives. We slump, we sleep poorly, we have accidents, we carry heavy bags, and we play sports. This is all a part of life, but life does tend to have a way of creating a bit of wear and tear on our spine and joints. The result? Our vertebrae have subluxations, our discs are compressed or even herniated, and our muscles are strained from our misaligned spine. 

Chiropractic care, like the care you get at The Joint Chiropractic, works to return your spine to its biomechanically optimal position, where all the vertebrae are neatly aligned, with a clear channel available for the spinal cord. 

So where do the neck exercises come in? They're how you maintain it all. If your neck muscles are strong in some places and weak in others, they'll exert uneven forces upon your cervical spine. What's more, they'll fail to offer the proper support for your head, putting even more pressure on your vertebrae and discs. 

Let's Get Physical

So what neck-strengthening exercises are best? Here are a few to try: 

• Chin Tucks —  By drawing your head straight back like you're making a double-chin, you offset the effects of constantly thrusting your head forward (we all do it, especially when driving). Make sure not to tilt your head back when doing this; keep your chin tucked in, but still parallel to the floor. Hold for five seconds, then repeat. 
• Hand to Ear — Place your right hand flat against the right side of your head. Try to tilt your head to your right shoulder while providing resistance with your hand. Hold for five seconds, release slowly, and repeat on the other side. 
• Hands to Forehead — Place both hands on forehead, and while keeping the chin parallel to floor, try to thrust your head forward while providing resistance with your hands. Hold for five seconds, repeat. 

With neck muscles that are evenly strengthened and routine chiropractic care from The Joint to keep everything aligned, you may soon find that your own pain in the neck has gone from reality to just a distant memory. 

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.