Neck pain, also called “cervicalgia”, is severe pain in the neck, most often disappearing within a few days or weeks. They originate at one of the elements constituting the neck: the muscles (torticollis), tendons, ligaments, nerves, etc. and remain localized in the neck region. As indicated by the High Authority of Health (HAS), “around 2/3 of the French population are affected in their life by a painful episode of the neck and around one in five people have had an episode of neck pain lasting more than 30 days in the past year”.
These common pains can be caused by different factors such as poor posture, osteoarthritis or neck trauma. In a video posted to Instagram, physiotherapist Lisa, known on social media as @lisakine_, shared an effective routine to relax your neck and relieve tension by performing simple stretches.
What stretches should you do to relieve neck tension?
In her video, the physiotherapist shows different very simple stretches to combat tension in the neck. She recommends practicing these movements regularly, to see a real reduction.
Stretch your head up and down then from left to right
These exercises are not unknown to you? Fittingly, they are usually done to warm up before physical exertion. According to the physiotherapist, gently stretching your head up and down then from left to right helps relax your neck after a long day of work. Very easy and quick to perform, these movements can be repeated frequently to relieve tension.
Tilt your head to the side, accompanying it with your hand
Do you want to relieve tension in your neck? To achieve this, the physiotherapist advises carefully supporting your head with your hand to tilt it. This allows you to pull lightly at the cervical level on the side opposite the head. The expert advises staying in this position for 30 seconds.
Put both hands on your chest or neck to stretch your head
Still using the same principle, the physiotherapist recommends gently stretching your head upwards, this time placing both hands on your chest, then stretching your head downwards by placing both hands behind your neck. This stretching session, integrated into a daily routine, can have many benefits on the cervical area.
Additional sources:
- Understanding neck pain – Health Insurance
- Neck pain: do not systematically resort to imaging – Haute Autorité de Santé