When you have neck pain caused by an injury, pinched nerve, or TMJ dysfunction, you may be frustrated by the effect your pain has on your daily activities. Neck pain can make it difficult to get dressed, drive, and sleep comfortably. In addition to visiting Spine Correction Center of the Rockies for neck pain relief, you can complete these five simple stretches at home to speed up your recovery.

Eagle Arms

This stretch targets your shoulder blades. Start by sitting cross-legged on the floor or with your knees stacked as the image shows. Bring your arms together with your elbows at shoulder height. Position one elbow over the other, twist your forearms around each other, and clasp your hands together.

Keep your shoulder blades down and actively press your forearms away from your face for a deeper shoulder stretch. Inhale deeply five to 10 times and release the stretch. Repeat with the opposite elbow on top.

Head Tilts

Sit in a comfortable position on the floor. Tighten your abs and straighten your spine. Reach your left arm out diagonally toward the floor and tip your head to the right without letting your torso lean. Gently push your head downward with your right hand to deepen the stretch, but continue to maintain a gap between your shoulder and your ear.

Hold this position for a few breaths, and then use your right hand to guide your head back to the center position. Repeat on the other side to complete this stretch for neck pain relief.

Hand Clasp

Kneel on the floor. Interlock your fingers behind your back. Keeping your shoulders down, breathe deeply and extend your arms straight behind you. At the same time, lean forward and touch your forehead to the floor.

If your arms aren’t flexible enough or your neck pain is too severe to complete the stretch this way, hold onto a towel or strap behind your back instead of clasping your hands together. Hold the stretch for a few inhales and then sit back up and release your hands.

Chin Tuck

Sit cross-legged on the floor with a straight spine. Keeping your shoulders down, tuck your chin toward your chest. Inhale and exhale deeply five to 10 times. Gently press your head downward to deepen the stretch on each exhale.

Superman

This variation on the Locust Pose is designed to strengthen your back. Strong back muscles help to hold your shoulders in the proper position so they don’t hunch and cause neck pain. That’s why this stretch can help provide neck pain relief.

Begin by lying face down on a yoga mat. Hold your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and draw your arms out in front of you so you’re entire body is an X shape. Take a big breath in and lift your arms and legs as far off the floor as you can. Feel your back muscles working as you do this. Lower your limbs back to the ground on an exhale. Repeat eight to 10 times.

Visit Spine Correction Center for Neck Pain Relief

At-home stretching is incredibly useful for speeding up your recovery from a neck injury, and for providing relief from chronic pain, but alone, stretching isn’t enough. Spine Correction Center offers neck pain treatment to tackle the underlying cause, not simply mask your symptoms with medication. By wiping out the reason behind your pain, you can expect other symptoms such as numbness and tingling to dissipate as well.

To learn more about how our neck pain treatment is the perfect complement to at-home stretching, or to schedule a free consultation, please contact Spine Correction Center in Fort Collins at (970) 658-5115.