Tips To Restore Healthy Neck Curve

What are the chances you’re reading this article on your handheld device with your head down? You might’ve noticed the new buzzwords, “text neck” and “computer neck”, which are the terms used to describe the neck pain and damages from poor habits, such as looking down at your wireless devices for too long or too frequently in incorrect sitting positions. Neck pain is one of the very common symptoms people suffer nowadays. The poor habits can also cause a lot of other problems too, such as tightness across the chest muscles, arms and lower back, headache, dizziness, vertigo and nausea, etc. How are these symptoms harmful to our health in the long term? What can we do to treat and prevent them?

The weight of the head is a key factor for text/computer neck pain. The neck’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments are meant to support the head’s weight – 10 to 12 pounds – in a neutral position balanced atop the cervical spine. When texting on a phone, it is common to bend the head forward and look down at a 45- or 60-degree angle, which places about 50 to 60 pounds of force on the neck. Unfortunately, our neck is unable to withstand this amount of pressure over a prolonged period. As time goes by, you lose your neck cervical curve. What happens is your vertebrae get closer and closer together and even rub against each other. Therefore, the nerves in your spine will not have room to move and you’ll have a lot of tingling and pain down the arm. So maintaining the cervical curve is vital for your health. Not only is that but also stops the compensation of your back and lower back.

In our over 40 years of clinical experience, around 90% of patients with headache have a cervical component easily observed with physical examination, which reveals abnormal cervical posture. Typical headache or migraine patients tend to have a straight neck (hypolordotic/alordotic), describes a decreased curve or no curve.

Apart from correct sitting positions, and helpful exercises, heat treatment is one of the simple yet effective home remedies to help promote blood circulation and release pain.

Heat therapy has been used as a simple yet effective way to manage your pain and stiffness. A microwavable Therapeutic Herbal Wheat Bag could be the best investment you’ll make this year as a home remedy. Not only is it a heat / cold therapy bag, the four key herbal ingredients make this the perfect home remedy to relieve aches and pains. Simply use it while sleeping, watching TV, driving or computing.

Patchouli 藿香 – used in aromatherapy to ease anxiety, calm nervous system and balance hormone for a wholesome relaxation.

Organic Corn 有機玉米 – for long-lasting heat treatment, perfect for massages.

[ Care & Use Instructions ]

Heat: Microwave with a cup of water on the side for 3-4 mins for hot treatment.
Cold: Seal in a bag in freezer for cold treatment.

The main purpose here is to maintain a healthy neck curve and prevent it from diminishing. Once the neck curvature is diminished, it is very difficult to restore, surgical interventions may be necessary in severe cases.

Let’s try a simple exercise today to help maintain a healthy neck curve. Use a hand towel or gym towel, let the towel behind your neck and pull a forward slightly whilst doing this, turn you head back and forward like a nodding action. Do about 20-30 reps of this. The movement from this exercise help promote the restoration of your cervical curve and help relieve neck pain and headaches.

Correct exercise on a routine basis is the key to a healthy curve. Stay away from your computer and put your phone away for an hour, come join our Wudang Kungfu & Tachi class to totally rejuvenate your body.

The program is especially designed by Dr. Li combining her 40 years of experience in osteopathy and spine health, and benefits of ancient internal martial arts. The movements involve axial extensions, which can be beneficial in correcting spinal curvature problems. Apart from strengthening the spine and various of body parts, the program is recognized as an ideal exercise for integrating the body, mind and soul, enhancing the inner organs and promote healthy circulation.