neck tension
Neck tension, neck pain, and headaches are very common in today's world. We may especially notice this after we have spent a time working on computers or viewing phones, laptops, or tablets. Sometimes the pain can be in the neck itself, in the upper shoulders, or can manifest as a headache or even a migrane.
If you've found yourself facing this type of pain, it can be good to check on the angle of the head during work. For example, do you look down to read a monitor? Do you need to be looking always to the right due to the placement of the computer monitor on the desk? Attempt to have the monitor just below eye level within an arm's reach from the body for the ease of the neck, head and eyes. Attempt to have it as close to in front of the body as possible to avoid having to flex the muscles on one side of the neck for an extended period of time. When reading a phone or tablet, try to bring the device up so that the head can be resting in a neutral position, rather than bent forward or angled sharply down.
In the article "Massage Therapy for Neck Pain" from Integrative Health, July 2016, they discuss the load placed on the neck with forward head positions. "The human head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. When the head is in a neutral position, that weight can be supported by the neck muscles, but when the head is 30 degrees forward, the weight on those neck muscles increases to about 40 pounds. When the head is held forward 60 degrees, that weight increases to about 60 pounds pressure on the neck muscles. When we hold this position for any length of time, we create a repetitive use injury for our neck muscles, which is commonly called text-neck (often a result from using our phones too much). Tilting the head forward for as little as 2 to 4 hours per day has been shown to cause significant damage..."
Massage can be very helpful for bringing circulation, length, relaxation, and healing to sore, tired muscles in the shoulders, neck and head. There are many techniques that can be employed to bring ease to this area, restore range of motion, and build awareness of posture and use going forward. Any tight bands within muscles, known as Trigger Points (please see my SERVICES page for more information) can be released and function and mobility restored to the muscle. Trigger Point work often can relieve headaches as well. If this is an issue for you, please call for an appointment, and we can do a thorough assessment of your muscles and any headache symptoms and plan your treatment today.
I hope this inspires you and illuminates how the neck muscles work for us and the loads they carry throughout the day. May we gently observe our bodies as we go through the day, noticing when we ask more of them than usual and when we may be loading them in a way that is challenging.
For the complete article from Integrative Health, July 2016, please refer to this link: http://www.integrativehealthcare.org/mt/archives/2016/07/massage-therapy-for-neck-pain.html