Every year the US healthcare system spends BILLIONS of dollars treating neck pain. Neck pain impacts daily life in many ways from disrupted sleep to inability to focus at work to general irritability due to pain. Those who have had neck pain do not want it to come back…those who have not had it do not want it. So…to help with that, what follows will be the top 5 ways to prevent neck pain.

1. The human body is made for movement. A sedentary lifestyle is not helpful for the muscles and joints of the body. It is important to get up and move your body and neck routinely. Even a quick 2 minute walk every hour is helpful to break up the strain of sitting.
2. Limit time sitting with head looking down. People spend hours each day slouched staring at a computer screen or their phone or reading. While these actions are not harmful per se, if done day after day while missing out on regular movement then aches and pains in the neck are sure to follow. If you must sit and look at a computer, then it will be all that more important to follow tip #1
3. Regular Exercise. By regularly performing exercise, the muscles and joints of the body will move through their potential motion. This will help to keep the muscles and joints stronger, looser, and reduce the stress and strain of inactivity.
4. Neck specific exercises. Doing specific exercises for your neck can and will be hugely helpful. Just what exercises are best? Well…that really depends on the strength and movement of an individual’s neck. The best exercises for any individual are best determined by a muscle and joint expert.
5. Visit a muscle and joint expert for a regular checkup. Just as you likely visit a dentist 2x/year to keep your teeth cleaned and make sure they are healthy, a visit to a muscle and joint expert can do the same for your body. Taking the time to assess your strength and mobility and learn the best exercises to keep it that way is well worth the time invested. After all, what is it worth to you to sleep well, maintain your focus at work, and generally not be irritable due to neck pain?

There you have it, the top 5 ways to prevent neck pain. For those currently suffering, the time is now to take action to relieve the pain. And for those not interested in developing it, now is still a great time for action. If you are ready for the next step then click the following LINK to request a personalized consultation where you can learn more about how to resolve current or prevent future neck pain.