Sore or stiff neck? Treatment in Falkirk
A sore neck is one of the most common reasons people come to see me. It might build up over weeks of desk work, or you might wake up one morning unable to turn your head. Either way, it is very often muscular, and hands on treatment can help ease it.
Why desk work and poor posture can lead to a sore neck
Your head weighs around 4 to 5 kg. When it sits forward of your shoulders, as it tends to when you look at a laptop, a phone or a screen that is too low, the muscles at the back of your neck and across the tops of your shoulders have to work harder to hold it up. Hours of this, day after day, can leave those muscles tired, tight and sore.
Common triggers include:
A laptop or screen that is too low, or off to one side
Long periods of sitting without a break
Looking down at a phone or tablet
Holding a phone between your ear and shoulder
Stress, which often makes us hold our shoulders up without noticing
Over time, tight spots called trigger points can develop in these muscles. They can cause aching in the neck, tension at the base of the skull and tightness across the shoulders, and can contribute to tension headaches.
Waking up with a stiff neck
Waking up with a neck that will not turn is very common, and it is often down to the way you slept. A pillow that is too high or too flat, sleeping on your front with your head turned to one side, or a night in one awkward position can leave a muscle tight or in spasm by morning. Tension carried over from a stressful or desk-heavy day can make it more likely. Many stiff necks like this ease over a few days, but they can be very uncomfortable, and if they keep coming back it is worth looking at what is behind them.
How treatment can help
Treatment aims to ease muscle tension and help your neck move more comfortably. Depending on what I find when I assess you, I may use:
Neuromuscular therapy and sports massage to work on tight muscles and tender spots in the neck, shoulders and upper back
Dry needling, which uses a fine needle to treat tight muscles and trigger points
Acupuncture, which many people find relaxing
A combination of the above and stretching to loosen the muscles and joints.
Many people feel looser and more comfortable after treatment. I will talk through what I find and what to expect before we start and exercises that can be done at home to help.
Simple things that can help between visits
Raise your screen so the top is roughly at eye level, and use a separate keyboard with a laptop
Stand up and move for a minute or two every 30 minutes or so
Bring your phone up towards eye level instead of looking down at it
Choose a pillow that keeps your head in line with your spine when you sleep
Move your neck gently within what is comfortable, and avoid anything that sharply hurts
Book a session
Sports massage, neuromuscular therapy and Kinetic Chain Release are £55 for an hour. Acupuncture is £55 per session. I’m based at Ochilview Therapies, Newlands Road, Reddingmuirhead, Falkirk FK2 0DY. Book online or call me on 07778 562269.