Correct Your Neck Posture

Poor neck posture leads to a Forward Head Position which is one of the most common causes of neck, head and shoulder tension and pain. This can be a result of injuries like sprains and strains of the neck leading to weak neck muscles, poor sleeping positions and computer neck along with improper breathing habits.

How to Relieve Neck Pain

When it comes to the stresses of our busy lives and time spent on a computer daily, neck pain has become a real problem and most people are trying to figure out how to relieve neck pain without the use of medications and expensive doctors visits. There are many doctor recommended products designed to relieve neck pain at home.

Neck Traction - Relieves pain by relaxing sore and stiff muscles and taking pressure off irritated nerves.

Neck Pillows - Neck Pillows provide important support of the neck during sleep.

Heat Therapy - Moist Heat is very soothing to sore neck muscles and can help to relax you.

Neck Exercises - Exercises can help to relieve pain and help to prevent it from returning.

Home Neck Traction

Traction devices for home use are now more user friendly, comfortable, safe and effective. They range from general traction by lifting the weight of the head off the neck while sitting to more specific and effective methods of traction used while lying on the back which can help to restore the natural neck posture.

The new designs make it easier for neck traction to lengthen neck muscles and separates joints which often results in rapid relief from the soreness and irritation that accompanies neck problems. Gentle traction can exercise neck muscles increasing circulation, while firmer traction lowers the pressure between neck joints, freeing pinched nerves and easing herniated discs.

Heat Therapy For Neck Pain

Generally, heat should not be applied to an acute neck injury (3-4 days) or where discoloration or swelling is present. Heat can produce an increase in internal bleeding and swelling where there is significant damage. A strain of a muscle is similar to a cut on a finger. There is pain, swelling and bleeding. You would not use heat initially until the bleeding stops and the tissue forms a scab or scar. Initially, the use of ice for neck pain relief would be recommended, except if you wake up in the morning with a stiff neck from sleeping under a cold draft; Then use heat.

A stiff neck with pain

The muscle most often involved with a stiff neck is the levator scapula which connects the neck and shoulder.

The most usual complaint of a "stiff neck" is pain when trying to turn the head to the side where it hurts, often turning the body instead of the neck to look behind. It is often associated with a headache but not always.

The most common causes for developing this kind of stiff neck are; turning the head to one side while typing, long phone calls without a headset, sleeping without proper pillow support with the neck tilted or rotated, sitting in a chair with armrests too high and exposure of the neck to a cold draft.

How to treat a stiff neck at Home
Knowing some of the causes of a stiff neck can lead to prevention in many cases. A good method of self treatment is to use heat for neck pain relief and self massage to ease some of the tension. For massage, be careful not to strain while reaching back.

Memory foam pillows

Memory foam pillows offer a unique material based on the properties of its cell structure. Unlike standard foam pillows that only partially compress when under pressure, the cells in memory foam pillows fully compress when the weight of the head is pressed upon it, then the pillow springs back to it's original shape very slowly. This is how the name "memory foam" came to be, the foam appears to remember the shape of your head when it was last placed upon it's surface.

Memory foam pillows are also temperature sensitive. This means that at lower temperatures it is harder and more viscous, while at higher temperatures, it is softer and more elastic. This is the reason memory foam pillows called visco-elastic.

Neck Pillows for Home Neck Pain Relief

Using a Neck Pillow is a great way to relieve pain, stiff neck and headaches. The right pillow can also help with a more restful night sleep. One of the most profound benefits is the effect using a good neck pillow can have on the curve and alignment of the neck when used properly over a period of time. It is important to choose the right neck pillow and to become familiar with which neck pillows will provide the best pain relief and support.

Is it time for a new pillow? A six-year-old pillow can get 10% to 25% of its weight from dust mites, dead mites and mite excrement!