Did you know, the most common reason for neck pain is poor posture? Sitting for prolonged periods hunched over a computer, can do it (are you doing it right now?), as can poor sleeping posture. Also, many individuals respond to stressful situations by tensing up their neck muscles, which over time leads to neck pain and headaches. All of these can cause painful conditions including aches and pains in your neck ,strain and even pinched nerves.

Neck strain is a common symptom often the result of sleeping in an unsupported position. This puts tension on the muscles that run along the rear of your neck. If you experience neck stiffness upon waking in the morning, this can be the cause. A good way to relieve this pain and loosen tightened muscles is to stand under a hot shower and let the water run down the nape of your neck. Arch your chin to your chest to stretch out those neck muscles for about 30 seconds. Then hold your head back, pause, & flex forward again. Now roll your neck from side to side a few times. This should help to ease the stiffness and pain.

It's estimated that 70% of all pinched nerves are caused by poor posture. Essentially, a pinched nerve means a disc that positioned between two nerves in the neck has probably moved out of place. In addition to the pain that you feel in your neck, you may also experience some numbness and/or a tingling sensation in your arms and hands. You will need to seek medical attention if this occurs. Your care giver will likely prescribe neck-stretching exercises to alleviate pain and improve your neck’s muscles to keep the disc in place. Improving your posture at home can help too. Be sure that your head doesn’t lean forward too much, especially over time. When you are seated in proper posture, you should be able to draw a straight line from your ears to your shoulders on down to the hips.