Midtown West Chiropractor, Dr. Barry Goldstein, receives patients everyday complaining about neck pain. Aside from receiving regular adjustments, Dr. Goldstein suggests that patients use neck exercises to manage chronic neck pain. A typical neck exercise program will consist of a combination of stretching exercises, aerobic training, and identifying trigger points.
Here are some tips from the chiropractor in Midtown West to use neck exercises to alleviate neck pain:
– Neck stretching. The New York City chiropractor suggests expanding or preserving the range of motion and elasticity of the neck by utilizing flexibility and stretching exercises. These neck exercises can relieve stiffness of the neck that leads to pain. Neck stretching should be practiced every day.
– Strengthening the neck. There are specific neck strengthening exercises that will help maintain posture, which can work to lessen or eliminate chronic flare-ups of pain. Neck strengthening should be practiced every other day in order to allow the muscles time to heal themselves.
– Aerobic training. Aerobic exercises stimulate blood flow to the neck muscles and soft tissue of the neck and upper back, which will loosen the muscles and increase their range of motion. Aerobic training can be practiced every day.
Some additional tips alleviate neck pain are:
- Application of a heating pad prior to exercising; to warm up stiff muscles and joints and make it easier to stretch.
- Apply a cold pack to neck muscles after exercising to reduce inflammation in the joints and muscles.
- Use over the counter medications such as ibuprofen to alleviate neck pain and reduce inflammation.
