By Dr Tony Setiobudi BMedSci, MBBS, MRCS, MMed (Ortho), FRCS (Ortho)
Neck pain is a common problem. Neck pain can be uncomfortable and disrupt daily activities. However, the good news is that most neck pain is not caused by serious disease. Neck pain will often ease with stretches at home. The neck stretching exercise is effective in quickly reducing neck pain. Building muscles that support your neck is the most effective way to prevent and treat pain in neck area.
Neck pain may occur for many reasons. Poor posture, long hours of phone usage, sleeping and driving often puts pressure on the neck muscles. These can have a lasting effect causing a great deal of discomfort and pain restricting your ability to function normally.
Benefits of Neck Stretching Exercise
- Reduce pain and stiffness
- Improving posture
- Increasing range of motion.
- Restoring normal function
- Strengthening the surrounding muscles.
This routine can be repeated daily to alleviate neck pain and keep your neck loose throughout the day. Please do not do these exercise if you have dizziness, severe headaches, pins and needles or tingling in your arm.
Dr Tony Setiobudi is an Orthopaedic & Spine Surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Hospital (Orchard), Singapore. He treats bone, joint, muscle and ligament problems in adults and children. He has a special interest in nerve compression and spine problems such as back & neck pain, scoliosis, kyphosis, spine tumor & infection, spinal cord injury, osteoporosis fracture, spinal stenosis and slipped disc.