Do you suffer from neck and shoulder pain? Nearly 2 out of every 3 people will experience neck pain and discomfort during their lifetime. Much of it stems from the trapezius muscle, the one that suffers when we look down at our phones too long, or improper posture when working at a computer. Also, stress from our busy lives can also create neck and shoulder pain.
Your neck and shoulders contain muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, and veins, as well as many ligaments and other supporting structures. As such, if you suffer from pain in your neck and shoulders, it can radiate pain to your back, arms, hands and wrists. As anyone who has experienced this knows, it can be quite uncomfortable.
We've compiled a list of 10 remedies for neck and shoulder pain. Let us know in the comments which works best for you! ;)
1. Ice and Heat
Apply heat or ice to the painful area. Use ice (wrapped in a towel) for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat after that. Heat may be applied with warm showers, hot compresses or a heating pad. Be sure not to fall asleep with a heating pad or ice bag in place to avoid skin injuries.
2. Exercise
Resting too long, usually, more than a couple days will make it more difficult to get moving again. Keep moving, but avoid jerking or painful activities. This helps calm the symptoms of neck and shoulder pain and reduce inflammation. Even when the pain leaves, don't stop exercising.
3. Acupuncture
This therapy uses thin needles inserted into the body at specific points, both at the location of the pain and along the affected acupuncture channel further from the pain. This technique increases circulation in the acupuncture channels, which will reduce pain and speed healing.
4. Eat Well
We all know food can be medicine. Eating the right foods can help strengthen your joints, muscles, and bones, which then reduces the risk of injury. Plant foods are full of magnesium that helps relax tense muscles. Colorful vegetables are packed with antioxidant and can also help fight inflammation, keeping your tissues and muscles healthy.Vitamin D is important for strong bones, and the good news is Vitamin D is free! All you need to do is grab that salad and enjoy it in the sunlight!
5. Take a long, hot bath
The heat will help encourage the muscles to relax and pain to lessen. Grab some essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, or basil to help reduce inflammation and muscle spasms.
6. Stretch
7. Pain Relief Cream
There are several creams on the market than can help with neck and shoulder pain. There are warming patches such as ThermaCare and creams such as Bengay. My personal favorite is Tiger Balm, which comes in both a rub or patch. You can find it on Amazon for less than $5.00. This medicinal Chinese balm has been used for centuries and contains a blend of natural ingredients including camphor, menthol, clove oil, cajuput oil, mint oil, cinnamon oil and paraffin. It helps to ease muscular aches and pains and can even be used for tension headaches!
8. Check your Mattress and Pillow
Is an old mattress or pillow to blame for your neck and shoulder pain? If your mattress is 7-10 years old, it's time to replace it. Not only will you wake up with aches and pains on an improper mattress, it affects your sleep. Make sure your mattress is supportive enough and the correct firmness. Pillows have a much shorter lifespan. Inexpensive polyester pillows should be replaced every 6 months, and memory foam pillows last a little longer at 18-36 months.
9. Posture Corrector
Good posture, as it relates to the neck, is commonly considered when the ears are positioned directly above the shoulders with the chest open and shoulders back. In this neutral position, also called normal head posture, stress on the neck is minimized because the head’s weight is naturally balanced on the cervical spine. Ergonomics is important when experiencing neck and shoulder pain. Try a posture corrector, available for both men and women. These hold the shoulder in correct alignment and help promote healing.
10. Massage Chairs
As always, massage chairs are our favorite way to alleviate neck and shoulder pain! Here are some of our favorites:
The Synca Wellness JP1100 features the “world's most advanced 4D deep tissue massage robot” and “dual layer body scan system” available today. The industry-leading 3D depth system (approximately 5 in) targets the deeper layers of muscles located in the back, neck and lumbar region. What this means is that the rollers can penetrate your tissue up to 5 inches--an extremely deep tissue is possible. The dual sensors optimize the length and depth of the massage to ensure the best performance possible. The Intelligent massage hands imitate a massage therapists method of kneading to feel as if they are real hands with the strength ranging from "Strong" to "Gentle."
The i7 PLUS massage chair features a 32" S-Track massage roller that follows the perfect curvature of the spine from your neck all the way down to your glutes. The i7 PLUS is known in the industry for delivering a vigorous neck and upper back massage while also covering the lower lumbar area. The Luraco iRobotics i7 PLUS is also the most adjustable massage chair available today with two new independent intensity adjustment locations for a total of 6: neck, upper back, lower back, arms, calves and feet.
The Panasonic MAJ7 is able to massage from the base of your neck all the way down your spine and through to your glutes in an impressive "J" style. This is often referred to as an L-Track in the industry while Panasonic prefers to call it a "J" Track. The proprietary 3D rollers of the Panasonic MAJ7 are extraordinary. With Panasonic's engineering prowess behind the engine of the robotics arm, you are sure to notice the extremely quiet and highly precise movements of the rollers. The Real Pro Ultra travels along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis offering full freedom of movement in a 3-dimensional space. Because of this the rollers can easily switch between different massage techniques, reach above the shoulder sand traps as well as completely soothe every single part of your back. As an added bonus, the rollers are infrared heated.
Our relaxation experts want to hear from you! If you have any massage chair questions please reach out to us at 803-574-WISH(9474). We offer free shipping, no tax, a lowest price guarantee, and financing to those who need it. Give us a call today, your neck and shoulders will thank you!
References:
1. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-have-a-stiff-neck-try-these-simple-remedies/
2.https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/neck-exercises-dos-donts#1
3.https://medium.com/@holisticaromatherapy/neck-pain-our-top-4-essential-oils-for-relief-39b6fd1ef256
4.https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/how-poor-posture-causes-neck-pain
