Wry neck is a common issue in daily life, primarily affecting children and young adults, especially during spring and winter. So what should you do if you get a wry neck? Are there any good treatment methods?
1. Simple Neck Exercises:
Lower and raise your head while lifting your chest. First, lower your head until your chin touches your chest, then tilt your head back to look upward. Hold for 3 seconds before lowering again. Repeat 20 times.
Side-to-Side Head Swivels: With arms relaxed at your sides, tilt your head to the left, then to the right. Repeat 20 times.
Jaw Shakes: Keep arms relaxed at your sides and chest lifted. Shake your jaw vigorously from side to side. Repeat 20 times.
Neck Extension and Retraction: Keep your chest lifted. First, extend your neck upward as far as possible, then retract it downward as far as possible. Repeat 20 times.
Rotate the neck while keeping the body still. First rotate the neck 90 degrees to the left, then rotate it 90 degrees to the right. Repeat 20 times.
2. Massage Method:
A family member can assist the patient. The family member stands behind the patient, who is seated in a chair. First, use both hands to gently stroke from the back of the neck toward each shoulder and the back several times to relax the neck muscles.Then press and knead the following acupoints 30 times each: - Shoulder Well (GB21) - Wind Pool (GB20) - Great Vertebra (GV14) - Body Pillar (BL11) Finally, apply Red Flower Oil or Tiger Balm to the neck. Use the heated back of a wooden comb to gently press and glide downwards along the affected trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles 30 times to unblock meridians and promote smooth circulation of qi and blood.
3. Hot Compress Method
Apply a hot towel directly to the painful area for 30 minutes at a time, three times daily. Symptoms should largely subside by the next day.
4. Cupping Method:
First locate two or three tender points on the neck, shoulders, or back. Use a three-edged needle to make small incisions at these points, then apply fire cups. Remove the cups once a small amount of blood appears.
5. Pain Relief Patches
If massage or heat therapy isn't feasible, this simplest method involves applying pain relief patches to the affected area. Change them morning and evening daily for effective relief.
With so many treatments for stiff neck, those experiencing it can now see what to do. No need to fear stiff neck anymore!