5 Potential Causes For Neck and Shoulder Pain

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5 Potential Causes For Neck and Shoulder Pain, written by Andrew Siyabalawatte and narrated by Emma.
It’s easy to forget how much work our necks do each day – that is, until they start to hurt.
Neck pain and stiffness is very hard to ignore, and, if it goes on for more than a few days, it can begin to interfere with our lives. It may make it difficult to drive, sleep, and work. Here are some of the most common causes of neck pain.
Number 1 - Myofascial Pain Syndrome
For someone who has myofascial pain syndrome, painful knots will form throughout the body, causing localised pain and weak or stiff muscles. Patients tend to manage the symptoms with pain relief and physical rehabilitation.
Massage therapy is designed to target damaged connective tissue, muscle, and tight muscle fibres to provide a sense of relief from within.
Number 2 - Changes to the Cervical Disc Vertebrae
As we age, the cervical spine, which is comprised of 7 discs and 7 vertebrae, can accumalate wear and tear and we can begin to experience disc problems.
Many people will experience this condition at some point. It can cause neck pain that spreads to the shoulders, head and arms, as well as a significant loss of mobility when turning your head from side to side. Exercise, posture improvement, and massage can ease symptoms.
Number 3 - Bad Posture
Modern life has a lot to answer for, especially when it comes to the (seemingly unconnected) aches and pains we experience throughout our bodies. These days, many people spend much of their day sitting; whether it’s to work over a computer, look at a smartphone, read, or watch television, the way we hold ourselves makes a big difference to our overall health.
Sitting with the head and shoulders slumped forward can push your spine out of alignment, and create tension, which can cause pain in your head, jaw, neck, and upper back. Make an effort to hold your head and neck upright, and keep the shoulders from turning in towards the body.
Number 4 - Muscle Strain
You might not realise, but there are actually twenty-six muscles in your neck allowing you to move, balance, and swallow.
It is possible to strain a muscle in your neck while playing sports. Swimming, for instance, involves a repetitive motion that can cause pain in the neck – but it is also possible to cause a strain in more innocuous situations, such as sleeping in an unsupportive position, straining to look at a badly positioned computer screen, or driving with the headrest in the wrong position.
Number 5 - Stress and Anxiety
For most people, one of the most common ways stress and anxiety manifest in the body is through physical tension. The neck is one of the most common targets for stress-related tension, and if you are experiencing these emotions on a regular basis, the problem can become cumulative.
Consider meditation, massage therapy, and gentle exercise to relieve anxiety and stress and, hopefully, improve your physical symptoms too.