Are you tired of neck pain? Do you have pain in your neck that makes it almost impossible to back up your car? Are you fed up with numbness and tingling in your arm or hand? Do you have difficulty picking up your child or grandchild because you might hurt your neck? Do you have difficulty concentrating because your neck and head hurt? Do you have frequent headaches at the end of the day or experience migraines? If you answered yes to any of these questions or have any neck, head or upper back pain, then keep reading.
Physical Therapy and myofascial release may be able to help you.
Would you like to be free of pain and return to the activities that make you happy? Can you see yourself sitting at your desk or in your office chair comfortably? Imagine finishing your day with out a headache.
Your workstation, desk or computer environment may be the cause, or a major contributor factor, if you experience headaches, neck pain, eye pain, shoulder pain, back pain, wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome or fatigue.
If you maintain a sustained posture throughout the day can create patterns of myofascial and muscle tightness that hurt or contribute to pain elsewhere in your body.
Sit with your keyboard, mouse and computer monitor in front of you.
You should sit with both feet on the floor, your hips slightly above your knees, your back supported, elbows at your side and hands comfortably on the keyboard.
The top edge of your monitor should be the same level as your eyebrows and it should be about 18" away from you.
Do you wear bifocals? If you need to use the lower lens at your computer, it may cause you to extend your neck too far back.
To reduce this, invest in a dedicated pair of glasses for when you sit at your computer.
Do you talk on the phone for work? Holding a telephone between your head and shoulder is asking for neck and shoulder pain and tightness.
Invest in or ask your work for a "hands free" headset.
This will give you the freedom to sit properly at your desk while maintaining good posture.
If you have neck pain, migraines or headaches there are some easy and highly effective exercises you can do to help alleviate your pain and symptoms.
First of all, moving your neck is one of the best things you can do.
Gentle stretches and range of motion exercises, like neck rolls and turning your head side to side, are a great way to start and help.
Chin tucks, where you tuck your chin to flatten the back of your neck, help strengthen and activate the deep muscles in the front of your neck.
One of the best ways to help ease your neck pain or headache is to do some self massage.
Start by using your fingers and hands to work the tight and tender areas of your neck.
You can also duct tape two tennis balls together and lay on your back with these balls under the base of your head.
I have a video that shows you how to do some of these highly effective headache neck pain and headache relief exercises.
If you have any questions, severe numbness and tingling or are unsure about what may be causing your neck pain or headaches, go see a physical therapist.
In 43 states you do not need a prescription for physical therapy and can see a physical therapist today.
Your physical therapist will be able to determine if your condition is appropriate for physical therapy.