Avoiding Neck Pain from Holiday Travel Can be as Simple as Stretching
After a long trip, many people find that they’ve been joined by unwanted passengers: neck pain and stiffness. This problem is often worst with travel that spans long distances, as is common for holiday meet-ups. These stiff necks are typically caused by postures that are unusual for the sufferer. If you drive a car, you have to stay alert at all times and will rarely move your head and neck. When you ride in a plane or train, on the other hand, you may find yourself craning your neck into an unnatural position to see a TV screen, cell phone, or another device for hours on end. A chiropractor in Kennesaw says that it’s normal for such postures to result in stiffness after several hours.
Stretches to Stop Travel-Related Neck Pain
Regularly stretching your neck is one of the easiest ways to prevent neck pain. When you’re a passenger, you can even do it right in your seat. If you’re driving, be sure to pull off the road first. When you do, take that opportunity to walk around as well.
With that in mind, here are some easy ways to stretch those stiff muscles:
- Neck rolls – Slowly “roll” your head from one shoulder to the front of your body, then to the other shoulder, and then to the back. Keep the movements slow and gentle.
- Stretch in one direction – If your neck is clearly stiff on just one side, slowly stretch in the other direction. Try to avoid pulling on your head; that can cause overstretching and more pain.
- Stretch your shoulders if needed – Sometimes, the stiffness from your neck will extend into your shoulders. In this case, stretch the neck in the direction opposite the stiff shoulder. If both shoulders are stiff, switch between sides.
Contact Our Local Chiropractor in Kennesaw for More Information Today!
These stretches and similar moves should be done once every hour or two depending on how prone to stiffness you are. If you find them hard to do, or the pain does not subside, it may be that you have a hidden underlying problem. Make an appointment with us here at Discovery Chiropractic & Rehabilitation in Kennesaw, GA to make sure nothing is wrong. Keep in mind that new patients get a free consultation.
