Why Is My Neck So Sore?

One of the most common reason why we experience sore neck is due to extended hours in front of digital screens such as computers, laptops and mobile devices, especially if the way you position yourself is adding stress to your muscles and joints. As the usage of mobile devices is increasing, the number of people suffering from neck pain or associated systems are also on the rise. Pain is a way our body is telling us that we are doing something harmful to the body and it is time to fix it. In this article, we will have a look at what are the common causes of sore neck and the solution.

What is causing neck pain?

• The neck muscles. If the pain is mainly felt around the neck and upper shoulder area, most likely the source of discomfort lies in the muscles around the neck.
• The joint’s alignment. Some of you may also experience an ache over shoulder blade region or even a headache related to certain neck positions or movements. In this case, your joint’s alignment is probably not normal, which will modify your spinal movement pattern.
• The spinal nerves in the neck. In more severe cases, you may even experience numbness, pins and needles, or even weakness of your hand and/or along your arms. Most likely, the nerves which come out from your spinal cord in the neck are compressed, that will usually cause this type of pain or symptoms you’re feeling.

How to fix the pain?

Some simple and effective things you can try to reduce neck pain include self-massage, heat pack, stretches, etc. The point to note for massage is to use your finger to press around the sides of the neck to identify points with more tenderness, which we call trigger points, and then apply consistent and gentle pressure over the points for about 1 minute to help the corresponding muscle relax.

If self-management is not sufficient to alleviate your pain, there is usually underlying issue with posture and muscle balance. Therefore, long-term recovery can only be achieved after they change their movement habits. That can be done with professional help, through manual therapy, specific guided exercises and ergonomic adjustments.

Fortunately, you can experience substantial improvement in your soreness after just a few sessions of our physiotherapy treatments. Our treatment sessions typically last for 60 minutes, during which you will be carefully evaluated and treated. A recent study done by Sherman et al has shown that with 60 minutes of therapeutic massage, 2 or 3 times per week, patients with chronic neck pain have more chances of clinical improvement than people who don’t receive such treatment.

Remember to seek help early before a seemingly common sore neck progresses into a chronic neck condition which may trigger severe complications later.