Neck Pain Exercise

Health & FitnessExercise & Meditation

  • Author Altruist Jone
  • Published April 28, 2010
  • Word count 513

There are many types of spine diseases and people suffering from any of them can be really laid down low. The most common of them is associated with lumbar pain which mainly affects the lower back and is caused by muscle strain or vascular problems or arthritis or a ruptured intervertebral disc. Spine surgery is usually the last resort after all other methods have become ineffective in alleviating the pain. Spine disease treatments can be non-surgical as well as surgical though that is in very severe cases.

Muscle spasm disturbs the whole function of the neck, reducing its ability to iron out sudden stresses. Muscles which would naturally switch off after a time remain contracted and tense the neck, making it more sensitive to jars and sudden movements. As the neck becomes more irritable the person consciously becomes more guarded with their neck movements and their upper arm activities, magnifying the problem again. The interplay of neck and thoracic posture has important mechanical consequences for painful problems in the neck as it throws abnormal stresses on the cervical segments.

In the neck there should be a 40-60 degree C curvature. This is the best position for the neck spine because it leaves the spinal cord relaxed and all of the nerves can travel out of the back of the spine with no pressure or interference.True neck traction is traction where the goal is to restore the cervical curvature because this can be a long term fix for nerve pressure and neck problems like pain and muscle tension.

Often the body will compensate by activating the muscles opposite of the irritated joint and this may contribute to an irritation of the nerve. Nerve disruption can cause pain down the arm, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness. Many people choose to treat the symptoms instead of removing or reducing the cause. Pain killers, massage and various therapies will reduce the pain but this leaves the structures prone to injury and degeneration.

If you bend the neck down, you can feel the spinous processes of the vertebral bodies. Since the spinous processes are not covered by muscles, you should be able to easily feel them.

Beside the spinous processes in the neck region are the paraspinal muscles and the trapezius muscles. The first spinous process that you can feel is that of the C2 vertebra and this is felt at the base of the head in the midline.

Yoga also works to improve posture and create a comfort zone while in the proper posture, eliminating and lessening pain within the back. Cobra Bhujangasana. This pose is a healing posture for the low back but this posture may have a negative effect if done incorrectly or too deep. This posture decreases stiffness in the lower back, enlarges the chest, and strengthens the arms and shoulders.

The next neck exercises are performed as a group. These neck exercises are called neck or cervical active range of motion (AROM) exercises. The first neck exercise in this group is the "yes nod" otherwise known as neck (cervical) flexion and extension.

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