Hey you, got a stiff neck? I'd ask you to respond by nodding but, y'know – I'm not here to cause you more pain. No, I'm here to bring you relief! I'm about to show you a simple, fast and super-effective trick that will have you wondering why you ever thought Tylenol was your only hope.
Seriously though, why? Haven't you read our over-the-counter painkiller warning?
Alright, back to the issue at hand.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Good for you, man. That's not going to solve your neck pain though.
A stiff neck, according to chiropractor Dr. Andrew Bang, is usually the result of weakened neck muscles.
In everyday terms this could mean improper sleeping position/posture or too much time spent driving/staring at a screen/otherwise compromising your neck form.
"When your neck muscles become weak and you try to turn your head, the joint no longer moves smoothly because it's now out of place," says Dr. Bang. "Often the joint catches on something, either pulling a muscle or hitting the nerve irregularly, or maybe both.
Then you'll have instant pain and your body has a protective spasm. It will clench, causing you to feel like you can't even move."
How's that for a thorough explanation?
'Alright, man,' you may be thinking. 'Just tell me how to fix this thing.'
Alright, grasshopper.
The Magical, 10-Second Neck-Pain-Be-Gone Trick Of The Hour
Lie on your back and place a towel under one shoulder. Take your opposite arm and cross it over your body. Continue to breathe slowly. Hold this pose for a few seconds then switch sides. Bam. Done. You can now check your blind spots without tearing up.You can see this trick demonstrated in the Japanese video below. Her reaction should be enough to convince you to give this a shot.
https://youtu.be/nNa5TP5ObNMCleveland Clinic also recommends these tricks for neck stiffness relief throughout the day:
- Roll your shoulders backwards 10 times.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades together and release. Repeat this 10 times.
- Tilt your head to one side so that your ear touches your shoulder. Repeat this for each side 10 times.