A wrong movement of the head or a blow of air and behold: the neck stiffens and even just turning the gaze becomes a torture. Let’s see what to do before resorting to medication.
Yesterday morning, Giorgio woke up with a tremendous stiff neck. It is difficult to work in these conditions: staying eight hours in front of the computer is not possible.
It may have been a cold current or a sudden muscle contraction, as it happens in most cases, but also an incorrect position maintained for long periods of time or during sleep.
Torticollis is a frequent, often disabling condition, due to a contracture of the neck muscles. Fortunately, it is generally transient, it tends to resolve within a few days.
Soothing pain to help mobilization
Before resorting to painkillers and / or muscle relaxants, we can turn to natural methods. Such as learning to relax.
In fact, stress and anxiety worsen torticollis as tensions are discharged on the spine, including the cervical tract.
On the market then you can find different preparations based on arnica, which has pain-relieving properties, as well as anti-inflammatory and helps reduce pain.
One of the most used remedies is however to heat the part, as well as keeping the area warm with scarves or neck warmers.
And, in fact, heat helps: it relaxes contracted muscles, the primary source of stiffness and pain, with immediate relief.
In addition, increasing the blood supply in the area affected by torticollis promotes oxygenation by accelerating the elimination of molecules that induce pain.
In addition, heat reduces the transmission of pain signals through a mechanism that involves nerve fibers that transport them to the brain and are also sensitive to temperature.
When to rely on heat
If the torticollis is associated with an inflammatory state (due for example to a stretch or a tear) it is better to avoid heating the part.
In the absence of inflammation we can instead resort to the classic hot water bottle or a dry and warm towel to wrap around the neck, as well as hot-moist compresses are indicated using cotton or linen pieces.
And if we want to keep the area constantly warm, even outside the home, today it is possible to buy self-heating bands, which adhere to the part to be treated and leave free to carry out normal daily activities.
They are activated in contact with air and give off heat for about eight hours.
In this way it will then be possible to decontract the neck muscles and the trapezius also with ad hoc exercises: rotating, flexing and slowly extending the head.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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