Why is my neck stiff and tight?

The neck is currently the part of the body most prone to problems, which is closely related to long-term bad posture. Frequent desk work or playing with mobile phones can cause neck pain and stiffness. Simple pain is relatively easy to relieve, but if it becomes a disease of the neck due to overwork, it will be very troublesome. The most common one is cervical spondylosis, which must be treated in time once discovered. So, what causes a stiff and tight neck?

Why is my neck stiff and tight?

1. Cervical spondylosis: Cervical diseases can also easily cause patients to experience symptoms of stiff neck. Cervical diseases include: radiculopathy, vertebral artery disease, spinal cord disease, sympathetic cervical disease, cervical disease, cervical disc herniation, etc.

2. Traumatic factors: strenuous activities or uncoordinated movements on the basis of intervertebral disc degeneration.

3. Chronic strain: Long-term poor working posture causes the intervertebral disc to be pulled, squeezed or twisted from various aspects.

4. Cold and dampness: Especially on the basis of intervertebral disc degeneration, the influence of cold and damp factors can cause increased tension in local muscles, muscle spasms, increased pressure on the intervertebral disc, and damage to the annulus fibrosus.

What to do if your neck is stiff and sore

1. If you have a stiff neck when you wake up in the morning, you can apply an ice pack to your neck for 20-30 minutes. You don’t need an ice pack, you can use a cold towel or ice cubes.

2. Don't use a pillow that is too high when you sleep. Using a wheat bran pillow or an orthopedic pillow is helpful because they can support your neck better and prevent your neck from being damaged by a bad sleeping posture.

3. Office staff should take a break at the right time. It is very tiring to work hard every day. When we work for a long time, we should put down the work at hand and take a proper break. If you are fully engaged in the work, you can set an alarm to remind yourself. , twist your neck

4. Another way is to massage the acupoints.

Fengchi acupoint: It is located below the occipital bone, in the depression on both sides of the hairline at the back of the neck, just where the trapezius muscle and the upper end of the sternocleidomastoid muscle meet.

Houxi Point: On the ulnar side of the palm, at the junction of the red and white flesh behind the metacarpophalangeal joint of the little finger, the bulge when making a fist.

Zhongzhu Point: Located between the metacarpal bones of the ring finger and little finger on the back of the hand, in the depression behind the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Hold hands together and raise elbows. When we are nervous and our muscles are tense, our shoulder blades will lean forward and our shoulders will hunch. Whenever you have time, clasp your hands together, raise your elbows, and push your shoulder blades into the correct position. At this time, remember to keep your eyes level, keep your neck in a normal position, and do not let your ribs protrude because of raising your hands. The ribs must be retracted to properly stretch the shoulder blade area. Stay for 5 breaths. Then let it go.

5. When you pull your arms back to get water in the tea room, take the opportunity to stretch. Stretch out your arms, fix your palms on the wall, and turn in the opposite direction. You don't need to do it until it hurts, just do it when you feel comfortable. Stay for 5 breaths and then switch to the other side. This stretches the pectoralis major and upper limb flexor muscles.