The biology of the neck is incredibly complex and many people are surprised to find that there is very little there in order to protect it from damage. After all, it is made up of vertebrae that extend from the base of the skull and join onto the spine and these vertebrae are supported by an intricate multitude of ligaments and muscles. With this said, neck pain can strike when you least expect it! Read on as we go over a few things that can cause it…
Technology
In a world that is inundated with technology, it is no surprised that 10% of the population have some kind of neck pain at one time in their life or another. After all, we are spending more and more time hunched over computer screen, smartphones and game consoles! In order to prevent neck pain occurring as a result of technology usage, it is important to take regular breaks in order to stretch the muscles and ensure that correct posture is consciously utilised.
Pillow
A poor night’s sleep can affect your day before it has even started, however, your sleeping position may not be at fault. Rather, your pillow that could be the unexpected culprit behind your neck pain! After all, we use a pillow in order to stabilise the neck and keep the vertebrae in alignment as we sleep but if the cushion is too soft or too stiff then this alignment can be disrupted. As a result, the ligaments and muscles that surround the vertebrae have to work overtime in order to protect the neck, leading to pain and stiffness in the morning.
Pinched Nerve
The neck is filled with more than just bone, ligaments and muscles – there are also blood vessels and nerves there too which are incredibly important because they link to the brain. In fact, a sudden injury to one of the nerves in the neck can lead to paralysis! Luckily, pain in the neck when you move it in a certain way can also be attributed to something as simple as a pinched or trapped nerve. This occurs when the bones, muscles or tendons place too much pressure on one of the nerves. Luckily, it is often fixed with rest, stretching and over the counter pain medication.
Here at The Healthy Living and Fitness, we want our readers to benefit from a pain-free existence, especially when it comes to something as vulnerable as the neck. After all, pain in this part of the body can be caused by something as trivial as a headache or as serious as a heart attack! If you have had continuous neck pain that doesn’t seem to respond to over the counter medication, it is vital that you visit your doctor for a full examination. To find out more information, get in contact with a member of The Healthy Living and Fitness team today!