Stiff neck

A stiff neck refers to a tightness or rigidity in the muscles supporting the neck. The muscles and bones of the neck have to support the weight of the head and every turn the head makes. Neck stiffness can occur by itself or with neck pain. Any type of injury or illness can result in a stiff neck. A person with a stiff neck may move the neck more slowly and carefully. This can lead to painful muscles spasms.

Not all stiff necks are the same. While most of the time a stiff neck is caused by whiplash, ergonomics, wear and tear, or just sleeping in a funny position, there are those instances where it can be the sign of something systemic. Meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain, is one such instance, and can be quite serious.

A common cause of neck pain is muscle strain or tension. Usually, everyday activities are to blame. Such activities include bending over a desk for hours, having poor posture while watching TV or reading, placing your computer monitor too high or too low, sleeping in an uncomfortable position, or twisting and turning the neck in a jarring manner while exercising. Traumatic accidents or falls can cause severe neck injuries like vertebral fractures, whiplash, blood vessel injury, and even paralysis.

Yoga is a holistic and natural form of exercise that originated in India thousands of years ago. Yoga helps to alleviate ailments because it balances the body and helps to promote health and fitness. Nauka Asana (Boat pose): This yoga pose is very effective for your stiff neck. Lie down on the yoga mat with your face and chest facing upwards. Extend your feet and arms forward. While inhaling, raise the arms, head, neck, shoulder, back and legs as high as possible. Focus on balancing your weight on the navel. Try to maintain this posture for long. While exhaling, bring down the legs, hands and forehead to the ground. Repeat the exercise, and perform all the steps very slowly. Bear in mind that this asana is not for beginners and should be done under the supervision of a yoga instructor initially.

Relaxing the muscles with a hot shower, massage, or gentle stretches can help relieve a stiff neck as well. A hot water bottle or hot compress, made by soaking a towel in hot water, can also be applied to a stiff neck to aid relaxation. The pain of a stiff neck does not usually go away immediately with the above methods, so over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen can be useful. They can also reduce swelling and make relaxation easier, as it can be difficult to consciously relax the muscles when one is in pain. For persistent neck pain, it is always ideal to contact the physician to rule out serious underlying problems.

The picture is attributed to

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazer73/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0