Feeling that persistent neck pain and stiff shoulders are quite common. It is often the result of a number of causes from simple habits of bad sitting posture, sleeping positions to car accidents and even infections. Home remedies and over-the-counter medicines can relieve mild to moderate neck pain. However, we can’t always rely on ingesting these meds. The best solution to preventing chronic neck pain is to form habits and knowing a good workout, stretch and neck massage benefits goes a long way.
Before we look at the benefits of a neck massage, we need to look at the muscles of the neck. Because without understanding how these interact with an increase in pressure around the shoulder areas and the trigger points of the shoulder and other parts of our anatomy, it’s impossible to truly understand how a neck massage can help you. Both in terms of cognition and brain functioning, and general comfort — or avoiding discomfort.
Neck muscles
As you can see from this image, your neck is constructed of a series of small, thin strands of muscle. Therefore, when you run your hand over your neck when it’s tight, you will feel these fibers as lumps and bumps under your skin.
These muscles are under constant strain, holding up our head, which on average weighs around 5kg of constantly moving weight.
If you look at a tree that needs to sway in the wind without breaking, it grounds the trunk into roots that splay out into the ground at the bottom.
Our body works similarly, connecting our thin neck muscles to a larger fan-like muscle that spreads out over our shoulders and anchors down our spine.
Whilst this works great for meaning our head doesn’t roll off our shoulders, it also means that as soon as this way larger muscle becomes tight or in any way damaged, it’s easy for our neck to be pulled out of alignment. This results in us suffering with neck pain.
And this is how a neck massage from a qualified and experienced professional massage therapist has benefits.
What are the symptoms that I need a neck massage?
* A general tightness in the area or stiffness across your shoulders
* Headaches and tension around your eyes. This can even run into your jaw.
* A crunching of the bones in your neck, either chronic or acute can be a sign that you need a neck massage because the muscles which surround small bones may be pulling them so the bones grind.
* Reduced nerve sensation may improve from a neck massage, but this very much depends on the deeper cause. This isn’t a fail-safe.
* If you’re suffering with mental stress, it’s often easier to relax after a gently relaxing neck massage.
Will massage help neck pain?
Massage is one of the most effective and safest ways of loosening stiff neck and shoulders. Studies show that consistent neck massage improves condition and some forgo treatments. Applying pressure on the muscles around your neck and shoulders helps to reduce muscular tension and ease day-to-day stress. Massage therapy can do more than just relaxation. Here are some therapeutic benefits from getting a neck and shoulder massage
Neck massage benefits
Improves neck strength and flexibility.
Improves blood circulation, especially to the brain.
Improves immune system.
Alleviates mild to moderate headache, migraine, neck and shoulder pain and inflammation.
Relaxes the mind and relieves stress.
Recovery of muscle soreness.
Improves positive moods.
Seeking to book a Massage Therapy appointment? Shining Massage & Facial Clinic is here to help. Call 941-877-6688 or visit shiningmassage.com to schedule your appointment today!