Neck pain is one of the most common causes of pain and most people will suffer it at one time or another. Chronic neck pain affects your capacity to work, engage in recreational and social activities and, for some, ability to do the most basic everyday activities that we usually take for granted. Neck pain, predictably, begins to undermine mood, leaving you angry, annoyed, nervous and/or sad.
Neck muscle tension, stiffness, whiplash on one side of the neck and lack of mobility can extend to the arm. There are even cases where neck pain can cause dizziness, nausea and severe headaches.
Causes of Neck Pain
The section of the spine that supports the neck is referred to as the cervical spine. There are seven cervical vertebrae and their function is to support the head and balance the spine. It is very flexible and allows greater mobility than any other area of the spine, but this is also why it is so often the seat of pain.
The reasons for neck pain can vary, but certain people are more prone to it, such as those who spend a lot of time working in front of a computer or looking at their mobile phone or tablets; and athletes who frequently make rapid movements or suffer physical injury.
The main causes of neck pain are:
- Unhelfpul daily habits and poor posture when working, sitting, sleeping etc. ● Sudden movements
- Muscle and tendon strains and sprains
- Overload
- Stress
- Excessive time in front of screens
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diseases such as osteoarthritis, herniated discs or degenerative disc disease
How can massage help neck pain?
Massage performed on the affected area acts as a natural pain killer. It is a widely used treatment for neck pain as it helps to relieve the tension that has accumulated in the area. It promotes muscle relaxation and improves cervical mobility.
At MB Massage we have had numerous cases where migraines, headaches or stiff neck have improved considerably after 3-4 massage sessions.
A study was conducted in the USA in which 64 patients were randomised to receive up to 10 massages over 10 weeks. They experienced clinically significant improvements in neck pain dysfunction and symptoms. No adverse experiences were reported.
A further study proved the beneficial effects of massage for cervical osteoarthritis. This is a condition involving changes to the bones, discs and joints of the neck which may be present in up to half of all cases of neck pain in people over 50. Twenty four volunteers with neck arthritis were treated with 30 minutes of massage therapy weekly for 4 weeks, paired with daily self-massage, in this clinical experiment which found that arthritis pain is considerably reduced and range of motion is increased by massage.
Professional neck massage can:
- Relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the area
- Prevent deformities in the neck or back
- Increase the strength of the muscles in the area
- Relax the area where most of the stress accumulates
- Help to correct bad posture in the neck and back
After repeated massage sessions, you should notice a significant improvement with expert assistance.