Sudden neck stiffness can be caused by anything from sleeping in the wrong position to slanting your neck while cradling your phone. While neck stiffness is rarely serious, the pain is often acute and very noticeable. There are, however, some steps you can take to find quick relief for your neck stiffness, and it only requires about a minute of your time.
One quick way to relieve neck stiffness, according to leading neck surgeons in Los Angeles, is with a 60-second method that’s essentially a self-massage. When what is often nothing more than a muscle cramp causes noticeable pain, take the following steps to “knead” it away:
It’s often the levator scapula muscle, which connects your neck and shoulders, that’s responsible for neck stiffness. If the quick massage method isn’t working on this or any other muscles in the neck, consider these more extensive treatment options:
Fortunately, the cervical spine, referring to the seven bones of the neck, is more durable than you may realize. Neck stiffness often goes away fairly quickly, making methods like the 60-second muscle massage worth trying when stiff neck muscles result in discomfort.
If neck pain becomes progressively worse or extends to the shoulders and arms, it’s time to see a doctor about non-fusion surgery options that may provide lasting relief. Reach out to the highly regarded spine therapists and neck surgeons at The Spine Institute Center by calling (310) 828-7757. The path to a pain-free life starts here.