Relieve your Stiff Neck now

Have you ever woken up in the morning with a painful and ‘stuck’ neck for no apparent reason? You may have experienced a sharp pain on one side of your neck (which can sometimes radiate down to the shoulder), be unable to turn your head to the side or felt muscular spasms in your neck.

You may have what’s called “wry neck” and is commonly experienced in many middle aged adults. 

Wry neck generally occurs after a poor nights sleep, abnormal head positioning or activity at night, or from a sudden head movement or jolt.

Wry neck can often fix itself within 24hrs, however there are some exercises you can do yourself to help regain pain free movement before it completely disrupts your day. Keep in mind, if symptoms persist or get worse, it is recommended to seek professional advice from your physiotherapist.

Here are some quick tips to unlock your neck and get you going with your day!

Tip 1. ‘Make a double chin’

Tip 2. Minor Stretching

References:

Brukner, P. and Khan, K. (2007). Clinical Sports Medicine (3rd ed.) McGraw-Hill, Sydney.

Jones, W. and Kelly, T. (2017). Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. Retrieved from: http://www.ouh.nhs.uk/information

By Lee Poole.