Don’t Let Neck Pain Bring Your Summer Vacation to a Halt

Neck pain can be a tedious issue to deal with. Perhaps you slept wrong or maybe you strained your neck while playing football with the family. Regardless of how it happened, one thing remains true: you want to get rid of the pain as soon as possible! We’ve compiled a few tips that may help reduce your neck pain. If you’d like to call and schedule a consultation, we’d also be happy to see you!

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Staying hydrated is one of the healthiest habits you can pick up. This is especially true during El Paso’s hot summer months. If you stay hydrated, your neck will thank you. This is because the discs that are between the vertebrae in your spine make use of water in order for the disc height and spinal alignment to be well maintained. Well maintained  discs also alleviate pressure from your spine. If you maintain healthy hydration habits, your neck pain may disappear sooner rather than later.

Make a Habit of Straight Posture

Have you ever noticed how often we look down at our phones? Perhaps you’re reading this blog post on your phone right now! If you are, what position is your neck in? Check your posture. If you’re standing straight and only looking down with your eyes, then you’re doing great! But if you notice that you’re slumping or that your neck is overextended whenever you look at your phone, you might have created a habit of poor posture. The constant strain of poor posture causes the muscles in your neck to harden which can lead to fatigue or spasms in your neck or shoulders. In order to avoid any future issues, build a habit of good posture! It’s easier than you might think. You just have to be conscious about your posture. If you notice you’re overextending your neck, correct your posture. Doing this daily will go a long way!

Apply Cold, But Only For 20 Minutes!

Although cold (or heat) works on neck pain, it’s not recommended for long periods of time. Unlike other issues like sprains or swelling—which usually require the use of ice for 24 to 48 hours after the injury in order to reduce swelling—neck pain issues will only benefit from a shorter period of cold application. Cold may relieve some pain, but make sure to just apply it for 20 minutes and then don’t reapply for the next 40 minutes.

Seek Medical Assistance

If the neck pain is too much to deal with and none of the aforementioned tips helped, then it’s time to seek medical assistance. Southwest Chiropractic is El Paso’s premier neck pain treatment center. We’re ready to help rid you of your neck pain so you can go back to enjoying your summer vacation! Contact us today.