Archive:
- 2020
- 2019
- November (11)
- Keep your neck comfortable while you fly.
- Back pain is hard to diagnose. Here’s why.
- Neck spasms can be triggered by awkward movements or stress-related muscle tension
- 3 Techniques for Coping with Chronic Sciatica
- Protecting Your Neck Over the Holidays
- 11 Tips to Relieve Headache with Neck Pain
- 5 Unusual Office Chair Solutions
- 5 Tips For Preventing Tech Neck Pain
- How Soft Tissue Injuries Can Cause Neck Strain
- How to Use Tennis Balls for DIY Lower Back Pain Massage
- 21 Ways to be a Savvy Chiropractic Patient
- October (11)
- Best Yoga Poses for Sciatica Relief
- Immediate Treatment for a Back Muscle Strain
- 9 Lesser-Known Tips for Easing Neck Pain
- 3 Hamstring Stretches to Relieve Lumbar Herniated Disc Pain
- How Massage Can Ease Sciatic Pain
- What really happens when you pull a lower back muscle?
- Here’s how back pain is caused by movement
- Try these exercises to ease upper and middle back pain
- Is My Pain Sciatica or Something Else?
- Can Neck Pain Cause Dizziness?
- 2 Reasons Why Walking Is Good for Your Lower Back
- September (8)
- 5 Things You Should Know About Chronic Pain
- Is Your Upper Back Pain Related to Your Arm Numbness?
- Heat, or ice? When to use each for back pain relief.
- These 3 yoga poses can help loosen up your aching back.
- Here’s how to plan for driving long distances with back pain.
- These two everyday things might be triggering your sciatica.
- The underlying cause of leg weakness.
- Neck stiff? This could be why.
- July (8)
- 3 Things That Might Be Causing Your Sciatica
- Should I Nap During the Day?
- Consider these neck pain tips for the next time you fly.
- Summer tips for staying healthy.
- Clearing up the confusion about text neck and skull horns
- How to find the right seat to support your back.
- Here’s what you need to know about neck strains.
- Feel better by doing this just one hour each day.
- June (12)
- How to Get Sciatica Pain Relief Through Exercise
- 6 Strategies to Baby Your Back
- Best Laptop Setups
- Before you take the open road this summer, learn how to protect your back
- What’s causing my stiff, sore back?
- This may be the reason your upper back or shoulder blade hurts
- 6 things you should know about getting a good night’s sleep.
- It’s Men’s Health Week. Here’s a helpful guide for guys with spine pain.
- Try these 3 beginner stretches to ease your sciatica pain.
- Traveling this summer? Keep these 3 tips in mind.
- Here’s how to know if your lower back pain is serious.
- Did you know there are different types of pain that can affect your back?
- May (6)
- Here’s how to keep your back healthy and happy next time you golf.
- These 9 tips for soothing neck pain may surprise you.
- Don’t let these summer activities aggravate your back pain.
- Too much rest could be bad for back pain. Here’s why.
- If you like to use a heating pad to soothe back pain, keep these tips in mind.
- Pull a back muscle? Follow these steps for pain relief.
- March (8)
- Do your back a favor and try this for 60 minutes every day
- The 2 neck pain symptoms you need to get treated for right away
- Here’s what you need to know about cervical osteoarthritis
- Stress may cause lower back pain
- Learn the 3 most common reasons for sciatica pain
- How to Support Someone With Chronic Pain
- 3 Ways to Improve Forward Head Posture
- Don’t do these 6 things if you have a herniated disc.
- 2018
- December (9)
- Here are 6 surefire tips for lowering your stress before bedtime.
- Do you have osteoporosis? Here’s how you can best protect your spine.
- If you have sciatica pain, these are the yoga poses to try.
- 2 Common Mistakes That Provoke Sciatica Symptoms
- 3 Simple Ways to Indulge Your Spine
- 3 Symptoms That May Indicate You Have Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
- Exercise is key for better back health
- Smart, simple ways to keep your neck healthy this holiday season
- Here’s how to prevent and treat a stiff neck from sitting in an airplane
- 2017
- November (9)
- How Cooler Weather Affects Chronic Pain
- Try out 3 quick tips for helping your lower back.
- Warning: these 3 everyday things are hurting your neck.
- Sciatica symptoms flaring up? Try these easy hamstring stretches
- Here’s how heating your back pain can lead to relief
- See why resting for too long is actually bad for your lower back
- Here are 2 reasons to avoid phone use in bed if you have neck pain.
- Take control of your chronic pain with mindful meditation.
- Sitting Disease is the new health epidemic. Here’s how you can beat it.
- October (9)
- Taking a long drive? Here are 3 little-known tips to relieve lower back pain on road trips.
- How much do you know about the connection between sleep and chronic pain?
- How to know if your lower back pain is serious.
- The Importance of Aerobic Exercise for Easing Lower Back Pain
- Understanding Cauda Equina Syndrome
- 4 Experiences That Basically Sum Up Living With Chronic Lower Back Pain
- Poor posture causing your back pain?
- The truth behind cracking your neck
- An inside look at bone spurs
- March (12)
- 5 Tips for Flying Back Pain Free
- 4 Myths about Back and Neck Pain
- What You Need to Know about Neck Arthritis
- How to Treat Lower Right Back Muscle Strain
- Everyday Tips for Back Pain Relief
- Signs of a Herniated Disc in the Lumbar and Cervical Spine
- Minimize your back pain by incorporating these two tips into your daily routine.
- How Soft Tissue Injuries Cause Neck Strain
- 1 Hour to Ease Your Back Ache and Boost Your Mood
- 3 Things to Consider When Deciding Whether to See a Doctor for Your Lower Back Pain
- How to Exercise with Sciatica
- What You Need to Know about Spondylosis
- January (12)
- Weight Training Effectively Relieves Back Pain
- Is Piriformis Syndrome the Same Thing as Sciatica?
- 8 Crucial Insights for Back Pain Sufferers
- Understanding Spinal Anatomy Helps You Talk to Your Doctors
- 3 Lesser-Known Causes of Lower Back Pain
- Snacks, Supplements, and Scents to Help You Sleep
- Could My Back Pain be Caused by Stress?
- 5 Ways You May Be Coping With Pain All Wrong
- Should I Use Ice or Heat for My Lower Back Pain?
- How Posture Can Aggravate a Lumbar Herniated Disc
- 3 Simple Items That Can Help Ease Your Chronic Sciatica
- Which Mattress Is Best for Lower Back Pain?
- 2016
- December (9)
- 4 resolutions for better health in 2016
- 4 tips to cope with back pain as you navigate the joy and stress of the holiday season
- 3 tips to ease your sciatica symptoms during long car and plane rides
- What’s a Slipped Disc?
- 4 Big Reasons Why Back Pain Is Hard to Diagnose
- A Guide to Spinal Anatomy and What Can Go Wrong
- Put Your Knowledge to the Test
- Treat Sore and Strained Muscles
- 7 strategies to help you manage the upcoming holiday season.
- November (15)
- 3 little-known facts about chronic pain
- how to effectively use heat therapy
- Do you use your phone in bed?
- simple stretch to help relieve sciatic pain
- 3 common habits to prevent pain and stiffness
- 3 simple suggestions
- The New Health Epidemic: Sitting Disease
- 6 Questions to Ask During Open Enrollment
- Mindful Meditation vs. Chronic Pain
- Treating your Sciatica
- Simple clues to determine cause of neck pain
- 7 natural ways to relieve chronic back pain
- 3 hamstring stretches
- Keep your spine happy and healthy
- reality of living with chronic lower back pain
- October (12)
- 3 tips for a more pleasant trip
- Chronic Pain Quiz
- 3 Simple Tips for Chronic Neck Pain Relief
- Should I Worry About My Neck Cracking?
- Sciatica Symptoms
- Is Poor Posture Causing Your Back Pain?
- The National Pain Strategy
- First Aid Remedies
- Finding the Right Mattress
- Test Your Knowledge
- Which is better for your lower back pain
- Methods to Cope with Chronic Pain
- July (12)
- Five Ways to Keep Your Spine Healthy and Happy
- 7 Sleeping Tips for Chronic Pain
- Pokémon Go and Neck Pain
- Mobilizing the Spine Joints
- Avoiding Bed Rest
- Mild Nuisance that Comes and Goes
- Chronic Pain
- Aerobic Exercise
- Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Exercise and Chiropractic Care
- Treatment for Sciatica
- Top 12 Tips for Buying a New Mattress
- May (11)
- All About Spinal Decompression Therapy
- Exercise for Better Back Health
- Calcium is Needed for Strong Bones
- Sitting at work
- Neck Pain
- Sitting in Front of a Computer
- Home Exercise Equipment
- The Spine Can Produce Pain
- A Modern Spine Ailment: Text Neck
- The 3 Worst Things You Can Do To Your Neck
- American Chiropractic History of Treatment for Back Pain and Neck Pain
- 2015
- February (11)
- Evolution Chiropractic Medicine health care
- Depression Guide
- Differential Diagnosis
- Chiropractic Therapy and Exercise
- Back Pain and Neck Pain
- Stretching Exercises Sciatica Pain Relief
- Chiropractic-treatments Whiplash
- Back Muscle Spasm
- Chiropractic Examination and Treatments
- Leg pain and numbness
- Cervicogenic Headache
- 2014
- May (53)
- Back to the basics
- Evaluation Patient
- Reactions Following a Chiropractic Adjustment
- Chiropractic Adjustment Lumbar Spine Low Back Video
- Tai Chi theory
- Treatment a Cervical Herniated Disc
- Manipulation Under Anesthesia Pain
- Treatments Low Back Pain During Pregnancy
- Video What Causes a Stiff Neck
- How are you sleeping these days?
- Ice Massage Back Pain Relief
- Sacroiliac Joint Problems
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Aerobic Exercise
- Muscle Strain
- Compassion
- Chiropractic Treatment
- Strong Hamstring Muscles
- Axial Pain
- Myofascia
- Non Surgical Treatment Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Video
- Lumbar Spine Anatomy and Pain
- Sacroiliac Joint Anatomy
- Osteoarthritis Treatments
- Snow Shoveling Techniques
- Chiropractic Examination
- Leg Pain
- Occipital Nerve
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- Back Muscle Spasms
- Joint Cavitation
- History of Chiropractic
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- Depression Guide
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A neck spasm occurs when your neck muscles suddenly, involuntarily tighten. Your neck becomes painful and stiff, likely affecting the ability to turn your head. An awkward neck movement or stress-related muscle tension is often what triggers a neck spasm. Here’s a quick guide to relieving the pain.
Neck muscle spasms are a relatively common occurrence, typically occuring when one or more muscles becomes painfully tight and/or fatigued. Read Understanding Neck Spasms
Stretch
Try to relax your spasming neck muscles. Stretching may be an effective method to loosen and soften your muscles, which tighten and seize up during a spasm.
See Neck Stretches
Perform a stretch that lengthens your lateral neck muscles. One way to do this is to keep your shoulders in place and tilt your ear toward your shoulder until you feel a stretch in the side of your neck. If a certain movement causes more pain, stop it and gently try a different movement.
See Easy Levator Scapulae Stretch for Neck Pain
Try these 4 stretches to relax the neck muscles, which tighten and seize up during a spasm. Watch: 4 Easy Stretches for Neck and Shoulder Pain Video
Get a massage
Massage therapy can help you relax, which may calm your tight muscles and ease the pain from your neck spasm. Gentle pressure placed on the stiff, tender points in your neck may release tension from the constricted muscles, providing relief and restoring range of motion to your neck.
See Massage Therapy for Chronic Stiff Neck
Consider NSAIDs
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), may help reduce inflammation and relieve pain brought on by a neck spasm. These medications won’t treat the underlying problems that may have triggered your neck spasm, but they can provide quick-acting first aid to reduce pain.
Before using any medication, carefully read the warning label. If you’re already taking a medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using another medication.
See Medications for Back Pain and Neck Pain
Apply cold/heat therapy
Cold therapy can reduce local inflammation, which may help relieve pain from your neck spasm. Fill a plastic bag with ice and some water and wrap it in a thin towel, then press it against the painful area on your neck.
See Ice Packs for Back Pain Relief
You may also find relief through heat therapy. Apply a heating pad, switched on a low setting, to the tender area of your neck. If you prefer, stand in the shower with a gentle stream of warm water hitting your neck. The warmth can increase blood flow to the affected area, relax muscles, and soothe your pain.
See How to Apply Heat Therapy
When applying ice or heat, limit applications to about 15 minutes every 2 hours to reduce the risk for skin damage.
Relax
Your neck spasm may indicate that your neck has moved in ways it shouldn’t, and your tense muscles probably need a rest. One way to relax is to lie on your back with a cervical pillow or neck roll under your head and a pillow under your knees. Play calming music or a podcast to help pass the time as you relax.
See What Causes Neck Spasms?
When to See Your Doctor
Most neck spasms occur because of a sudden muscle strain and should clear up within a week. Pain that persists or gets worse may indicate an underlying spinal problem, such as osteoarthritis or herniated disc. For any unexplained neck pain that does not start to feel better within a week or so, visit your doctor. If your neck pain is accompanied by a severe headache, dizziness, nausea, arm numbness/weakness, or other troubling symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
See Specialists Who Treat Back Pain
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