Neck Strengthening Exercise To Improve Mobility & Decrease Pain
We all know how important it is to maintain our physical health. However, certain body parts are often overlooked when it comes to exercise and strengthening. One of these areas is the neck. Do you experience pain and stiffness in your neck? It can be uncomfortable, not to mention limit your mobility, making daily tasks a chore. But don't worry - Strengthening the neck can help improve mobility and decrease pain in this area. This article will provide an overview of how motion and stability can pain and ways to balance and strengthen the muscles supporting our head and neck. Through the simple addition of these motions and exercises, you can achieve better posture and ultimately reduce discomfort in your neck region.
How Loss Of Motion In The Neck Creates Pain
If you’re experiencing pain in your neck, you may be suffering from a loss of motion. It’s an all-too-common problem that can lead to a decreased range of motion and chronic pain. Understanding the causes of this condition is the first step to finding relief.
Loss of motion in the neck occurs when ligaments, tendons, or muscles become weakened or injured due to age, overuse or trauma. This type of injury can cause inflammation, muscle stiffness, and soreness as well as limited movement and flexibility. Other symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and tingling sensations in the arms and hands. In some cases, loss of motion can even lead to nerve damage if left untreated for too long.
Fortunately, these issues can be addressed with exercises and therapies that focus on increasing strength and range of motion.
What Causes Stiffness In The Neck
If you've been experiencing stiffness and pain in your neck, could be because of loss of motion in your cervical spine. Postural issues, degenerative changes, or even nerve impingement can cause restricted movement and a buildup of tension in the neck muscles. This often leaves us with stiffness, fatigue, and pain that limits our day-to-day activities.
So what can we do to help manage this problem? The best approach is to start treating the underlying causes. That may mean addressing any degenerative changes in our cervical spine through strengthening programs or chiropractic care. Additionally, postural training exercises can be beneficial if you spend a lot of time sitting at a computer or desk all day. Exercises that target both strengthening and stretching are key to restoring a normal range of motion and helping reduce neck pain over time.
Why Proper Mobility Of The Neck Is Important For Brain Health
Maintaining proper mobility of the neck is essential for keeping your brain healthy. It's not just about comfort and avoiding pain - it can have far-reaching effects on cognitive function.
The spine and the nervous system are closely intertwined, with spinal fluid carrying signals up and down the spinal cord. When a person has poor posture, there can be more pressure placed on their neck region which impedes spinal fluid flow. This means that messages from the brain to other parts of the body will be delayed or blocked altogether, resulting in less efficient communication between different systems in the body.
Having the full range of motion in your neck allows for improved circulation of this spinal fluid, so that information is transmitted more easily along neural pathways.
Increasing Range Of Motion & Neck Strengthening Through Stretching
Stretching is a great way to increase your range of motion and strengthen your neck. Not only can it help you improve the way you move, but it can also help alleviate pain or discomfort in these areas. It's important to stretch throughout the day - especially when you're feeling stiff or experiencing tight muscles- so that you don't end up with long-term issues such as muscle tears or joint instability.
There are many different types of stretches that target the neck and shoulder area specifically, such as shoulder rotations or side bends. You can also do some yoga poses like upward salutation, extended side angle pose, and cat-cow pose to help open up these areas further. All of these exercises should be done slowly and gently several times throughout the day for maximum results.
Neck Exercises That Strengthen The Muscles Supporting The Head
It's important to maintain strong neck muscles to keep our posture correct and free from pain. Improved muscle strength can help support the head and reduce strain on the upper spine. They can also help to improve balance and coordination, as well as reduce neck and shoulder pain. Strengthening exercises should focus on the muscles in the front, back, and sides of the neck. This can be done by doing exercises such as neck extensions, shrugs, and lateral raises with weights or resistance bands. Additionally, it is important to perform stretches regularly along with strengthening to keep your neck muscles flexible.
To get started with strengthening the muscles of your neck, try a chin tuck. To perform this exercise, start in a neutral position then begin tucking your chin towards your chest – as if you were doing a double chin – then hold it there for 10-15 seconds before releasing. This helps target the neck muscles that support the head and can be done anywhere (even while sitting at a desk)! Another exercise is standing upright with your back against a wall, then pressing the back of your head against it while extending the chin outward. Hold this position for 10-15 seconds before returning to neutral.
By including these therapeutic exercises in your daily routine, you can begin managing neck pain and the tight muscles that can result from poor postural habits from computer work or from the use of smartphones. If you're feeling overwhelmed or are wanting more support in reducing pain and discomfort in your neck through building strength and stabilization in your body, schedule a consultation today with Base Camp Health.
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Located in our convenient location at3303 S Lindsay Rd, Suite 113, Gilbert, Arizona. 1 block off the 202, we're here to help guide your through the hurdles of our modern world.