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IS STRESS CAUSING YOUR NECK PAIN?
Does your neck hurt? Does your neck pain cause you to have increased anxiety or difficulty concentrating at work? Is neck pain preventing you fromdoing the activities you used to enjoy or keeping you from having a good night sleep? You might be suffering from stress-related neck pain- also called tension headache. As the muscles tense up, the more pressure they cause in your back shoulders and neck leading to your neck pain. Let’s take a closer look at stress-related neck pain. IS MY NECK PAIN CAUSED BY STRESS? Pain worsened by keeping your head in one place — like when you’re driving, or using a computer — is neck pain. While neck pain has a slewof symptoms, itsmajor symptoms, reported by Mayo Clinic, are: · Muscle tightness and spasms · Headaches · Decreased ability to move the head Stress-induced neck pain isn’t rare. It also isn’t psychological. Many experts think stress- induced neck pain is caused by physical factors— low, but constant, trapeziusmuscle activity. If your neck pain starts at the base of your shoulders, traveling upward, it may be stress related.
Stress-induced neck pain is common. As we work long hours in front of a computer, multitasking and taking care of many things, we put stress not only on our mental state but on our muscles as well. If your neck pain starts at the base of your shoulders, traveling upward, it may be stress related. CAUSES OF STRESS-RELATED NECK PAIN While stress alone can trigger neck pain, a few factors can make it worse. Non ergonomic office environments with little opportunities tomove around can lead to development of bad posture and create neck pain problems. Driving often, too, for long hours can also increase your chances of having stress- related neck pain. The U.S National Library of Medicine suggests contacting a healthcare professional if you’re experiencing neck pain. Even if it’s caused by stress, untreated neck pain might later lead to muscle spasms, arthritis, bulging discs or even narrowed spinal nerve openings. HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP MY NECK PAIN Good news! Neck pain,fortunately, can be alleviated with physical therapy. Because neck pain is often caused by activity, different activities can cure it. Sometimes the cure is
rest. Neck pain that is caused by stiffness and poor posture can be treated by improving range of motion, posture correction; proper biomechanics and movement reeducation. Sometimes, simply changing how you do things may even help relieve your neck pain. If you don’t see relief within two weeks, contact a professional. Physical therapists can target your pain’s source by examining your symptoms. Then, they canoffer exercises that stretch, strengthen, and relax your neck muscles. In time, your neckwill becomemore resilient—giving you the comfort youdeserve. Where aftercare treatment is considered, custom-tailored neck exercises will assure your neck stays loose, limber and healthy. If you’re dealing with neck pain, you’re not alone. Call our office today, and schedule an assessment. Even if your neck pain is caused by stress, it may still need attention. We’ll work side by side with your goals, creating a proactive, effective treatment program you need to be pain free once again.
For more information on how physical therapy may benefit you, call your physical therapist at 301.352.8370 (Glenn Dale) or 301.856.8386 (Clinton).
CALL 301.352.8370 (GLENN DALE) OR 301.856.8386 (CLINTON) TO SCHEDULE YOUR PT CONSULTATION TODAY!
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