Whether you engage in physical activities as a chore or to stay healthy, it is essential to stay active for your body to function well. However, one wrong move, such as lifting weights or taking a golf swing, can end up causing neck pain. Most of the time, you may not realize that physical activity is to blame. Even though medications and going for massage therapies may help relieve you from the stiffness or pain, these options might not help you, especially if caused by other underlying issues.
Fortunately, if you are suffering from neck pain in Ramsey, the team at Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine can help.
How physical activities can lead to neck pain
Be it construction work or moving stuff around your house, engaging in physical activities that involve carrying heavy items can lead to neck pain or stiffness. Some common examples include:
Lifting or carrying heavy weight objects
When lifting a heavy object, you are likely to compensate by using poor posture or forcing your neck to bend abnormally to maintain balance. When you do it longer than expected, your neck may start experiencing pain or stiffness.
Repetitive movement
Some tasks, such as lifting items from one place to another, can only be executed using the same motions over and over. When this happens, your neck muscles and joints become overused. You may start to experience inflammation and pain.
Executing a new task or maneuver
The body is programmed in such a way that it can experience tension when you are performing a new task. For example, if you are lifting and layering bricks for the first time, your back and neck may be required to bend at an unfamiliar angle. You may suffer a stiff neck later on. But if you are lucky not to develop pain soon after the task that caused the neck strain, the stiff neck’s exact cause may not be detected.
How to treat neck pain from physical activity
While performing different tasks that require the help of the neck’s muscles and joints, you can never underestimate the impact of chronic neck pain. Try out some of these tips to reduce pain and make a good recovery:
· Take a break when you sense neck pain if your performing task is interfering with your normal motions.
· Try home remedies to see how the neck will respond. You can also try pain relievers to treat the condition and help the muscles to relax.
· Consider neck stretching motions to reduce neck stiffness and pain. But if the neck motions worsen the pain, stop it immediately. Alternatively, you can massage the sore area to loosen the muscles and reduce the pain.
If all these options fail to reduce the pain, you should see your doctor.
See a specialist for neck pain treatment
No matter how many precautions you may take to avoid neck pain, it is still possible to occur. If it reoccurs and accompanies other symptoms, consulting a specialist will be the best decision to make. For more details on how physical activities can lead to neck pain, book an appointment with your physician.