What to Do for Stiff Neck
I. Massage Method
Have the patient sit upright. The caregiver's left hand supports the patient's forehead while the right hand's thumb or remaining four fingers (thumb on left, fingers on right) presses and kneads the large tendons on both sides of the back of the neck, moving up-down or down-up several times.Then, grasping the large tendons on both sides of the back of the neck, gently rotate the patient's head and neck forward, backward, left, and right. Start with light pressure and slow movements, gradually increasing intensity and speed. Alternatively, the patient can place their thumb on the same side of the neck and the remaining four fingers on the opposite side, massaging from top to bottom and bottom to top. Focus on pressing tender points. Repeat for about 15 minutes to quickly relieve pain.
II. Hot Compress Method
Take 300–500 milliliters of rice vinegar. Soak a piece of cotton gauze in the vinegar, then lay it flat over the painful area of the neck muscles. Place a hot water bottle filled with hot water (temperature around 70°C–80°C) on top of the vinegar-soaked gauze for a hot compress. Maintain the compress for 20–30 minutes.The water temperature should not be excessively high or low. Replace the hot water in the bottle as needed to maintain warmth.
While applying the compress, gently move your neck to enhance effectiveness, gradually increasing the range of motion. Most stiff neck sufferers experience significant pain relief after 1–2 treatments.
III. Cupping Therapy
First, locate two or three tender points on the neck, shoulders, or back. Use a three-edged needle to make incisions at these points, then apply fire cups. Remove the cups once slight bleeding occurs.
IV. Ear Acupuncture with Mung Bean Pressure
Select the ear acupoints for the neck, Shenmen point, and sensitive areas on the ear. Place mung beans on the chosen acupoints and secure them with 0.8x0.8 cm adhesive pain relief patches. Apply pressure three times daily for 2 minutes each session.
V. Exercise
Sit upright in a chair with chest lifted. Lower head until chin touches chest, then tilt head back to gaze at ceiling. Hold for 3 seconds before lowering head. Repeat 20 times.