Does it seem like you always wake up with neck pain? It is not the ideal way to begin your day and can make you irritable, especially when small movements like turning your head cause pain. There are a number of reasons why you wake up with neck pain, but there are also ways to prevent and treat it.
Causes for Neck Pain
As stated previously, there are various reasons for your neck pain, the two main reasons most likely being your sleeping position and the pillow you use. Unfortunately, these two reasons can trigger issues such as a stiff, sore neck, leading to further back pain.
Everyone has their favored sleeping position, but if yours is on your stomach, then that is going to be causing your neck and back further damage. When sleeping on your stomach, you twist your neck on one side, potentially for hours. This causes your neck muscles to strain, leading to neck pain in the morning. If you are a stomach sleeper, consider finding ways to change this habit.
Your pillow may also be causing your morning neck pain. This is because you spend hours on your pillow. Therefore, it is vital to choose the best one for you. If your pillow is not supporting your head and neck properly, it can create tension in your neck. The best options are feather or memory foam pillows to cradle your head throughout the night.
If your pillow or sleeping position is not the cause for your neck pain, then it may be that while you were sleeping, you had a sudden movement, such as sitting up quickly or tossing your arms and legs around. Or you could suffer from a previous injury where the pain shows up days later, such as whiplash. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of ways to prevent neck pain in the mornings.
Preventing Neck Pain
There are many ways you can prevent waking up with neck pain. One of the best ways is by seeking out chiropractic services for state workers. A chiropractor will not only alleviate your neck pain but also give you advice and tools to prevent it from continuing.
Along with that, there are other things you can do to prevent consistently waking up with neck pain. The first is changing your sleeping position, especially if you are sleeping on your stomach. Try to switch to sleeping on your back or side instead. If you sleep on your side, putting a pillow between your legs can help align your neck with your spine. Also, ensure that your pillow is not higher under your head than on your neck because that can cause strain to your muscles.
Try out a feather or memory foam pillow. Feather pillows conform to your neck and head shape easily. However, they must be replaced every year or two because they will lose shape. Memory foam pillows also fit your head and neck shape while keeping your neck well-supported. Do not use a pillow that is too stiff or deep since this may cause your neck muscles to flex throughout the night.
Waking up consistently with a sore neck can be irritating, but making a few changes can help prevent it from continuing.
