Things You Should Know
- Start the massage with your fingertips to help warm up the person’s neck muscles.
- Give a well-rounded massage by focusing on the back and sides of the neck, as well as the shoulder blades, collarbones, and upper arms.
- Use different parts of your hands to apply varying amounts of pressure during the massage.
- Give a supine neck massage by having the other person lay face-up in a slightly inclined position.
Giving A Supine Neck Massage
Shiatsu Self Massage For Neck Pain How To Do It
1. Place your right hand at the base of the left hand side of your neck. Press your fingers into the muscle and firmly pull your hand across the area of your lower neck and upper shoulder towards your clavicle or collarbone. Repeat 4-5 times on each side you can immediately feel tension subsiding.
2. Place your left thumb at the top of the back left hand ridge of your neck at the base of your skill. Rotate the 4 fingers of your left hand to the right so that they contact the right-hand side ridge of your neck at the same level at the base of the skull. Incline your head forward a little and squeezer your thumb and fingers towards the middle of your neck by pinching and raising the muscle. The pressure exerted by your thumb should be greater than that from your fingers. With each subsequent squeeze move the position of your thumb and fingers lower down your neck, towards the base of your neck. Try to squeeze at leaf 5 times. Repeat the process with your right hand and remember it is mostly the thumb in each case that is doing the work.
3. Place both thumbs in the same position as in the previous exercise on the upper left and right hand ridges of your neck at the base of your skull. With your fingers resting on your head tilt your head back as far as you comfortably can and begin to massage the point under your thumbs in a circular fashion. This can sometimes be quite painful so begin softly and gradually build up the pressure. Massage these points for 1 to 2 minutes.
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Whats The Best Massage For A Stiff Neck
Question:About a week ago, I woke up with a stiff neck. I figured Id just slept with my head cranked funny and went on about my day. The next day, though, I could hardly turn my head without excruciating pain. Since then, the level of pain goes up and down from day to day, but overall it doesnt seem to be getting any better. Whats the best massage I can get that will help my neck feel better?
Answer:A stiff neck is relatively common in todays society, especially among people who sit at a desk in front of computers all day. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 20 percent of adults have experienced neck pain in the past three months. In many cases, you can loosen up your neck with a little stretching, or perhaps by applying a heating pad or a cold compress. But when the pain doesnt go away or seems to get worse, you may need to seek professional help.
A randomized trial reported in the Clinical Journal of Pain concluded that patients who received 10 massages over the course of 10 weeks experienced significant improvement in their neck pain as a result of that treatment. Furthermore, none of the patients experienced any adverse reactions to the treatment, proving that massage is not only effective but also safe to help alleviate the pain of a stiff neck.
Cleveland Clinic: Do You Have a Stiff Neck? Try These Simple Remedieshttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/05/do-you-have-a-stiff-neck-try-these-simple-remedies/
Three Stiff Neck Remedies You Can Do At Home
A stiff neck is a problem for a couple of reasons. First, it hurts. Nobody wants to go through their day in pain. Second, it makes it difficult to do anything. Youll have trouble completing daily tasks when you cant move your head or shoulders because of a stiff neck.
Our team at Armor Physical Therapy doesnt want you to suffer from stiff neck struggles. We offer treatments to help restore the strength and mobility of neck muscles and tissues. However, if your neck pain feels minor, you may feel better after trying the following stiff neck remedies at home.
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Using Specially Designed Self
There are a variety of other self-massage tools designed to target specific muscle groups more accurately. These include:
When included as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, self-massage might also help manage chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or arthritis. It shouldnt replace regular medical treatment, though.
Additionally, if you receive professional massages, self-massage may prolong the benefits and provide relief in between sessions.
Best Shiatsu Option: Nekteck Shiatsu Neck And Back Massager With Soothing Heat
If you love getting Shiatsu massages at the spa, youll love this massager from Nekteck, which is designed to hit acupuncture points in your neck. The durable model uses eight massage nodes that mimic human hands to provide deep kneading that relieves muscle tension and pain. You can enjoy a relaxing massage for 15 minutes at a time before the safety shut-off function kicks in. Love is not a strong enough wordâI never would have thought that a $40 neck massager could be this good but it literally feels like a person massaging you,raved one customer. What is this witchcraft!?! I use it for my entire body: feet, calves, thighs, lower back, upper back, neck. My husband is actually jealous of this thing . Bottom line, you need this.
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Hezheng Neck Massager With Adjustable Heat Electric Massager 3 Massage Pads With Remote Control For Neck Pain Relief
Similar item to consider
- EFFECTIVE ALLEVIATE NECK SORE: The impluse theraphy+force vibration+hot compress design, may promote the circulation, help to easy the neck pain and alleviate headache. Electric pulse massage is good for circulation which can refresh your blood. Heat function reduce neck tension and loosen up stress. Vibrate the masage function relax muscles helps to solve stiff neck.
Naipo Rechargeable Neck And Shoulder Massager
This neck and shoulder massager is cordless and rechargeable. It has a heating function for relieving muscle soreness.
It offers a bidirectional massage and eight deep-kneading shiatsu massage nodes. People can adjust the intensity with three speed levels.
The product also features an automatic shut-off and is suitable for use all over the body.
Pros and cons
Some pros of this product include:
- long shoulder straps
- overheating protection
- a breathable mesh fabric
However, reviewers have identified some cons, such as a bulky design and an uncomfortable netting material. Moreover, the nodes only massage in one direction.
Naipo offers a 2-year warranty and a 30-day return policy for this device.
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Types Of Massages For Pain
Before we dive into the massage techniques, it is important to note that one should be gentle when it comes to giving massages to someone else and to check in regarding the level of pain. Especially for sensitive areas such as the neck. If massages are performed with too much strength, it can cause more harm than good. Also, do ensure that movements are gentle and gradual to prevent injury. If you have long fingernails, an alternative would be to use your knuckles instead.
Giving A Seated Massage
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How We Tested The Neck Massagers
We bought 29 neck massagers in various styles, from pillows, slings, canes, massage guns, roller balls, and massage seats. During testing days in The Lab, our testers used each massager for at least 15 minutes, experiencing each model’s different settings, speeds, and temperature options.
Throughout the test, we evaluated each massager for how effectively it relieved muscle tension and provided muscle relief, how comfortable it was to use, how intuitive and easy it was to operate, the different features and how functional they were, and the massager’s value. In attention to ergonomics, we noted any devicesand particular settingsthat caused pain or discomfort.
We are currently conducting long-term testing with all the picks on our list to see how they perform over time, documenting their durability and whether we experience malfunctions or other issues. We will update our recommendations with more insights as we spend more time with these products in the coming weeks.
Verywell Health / Leticia Almeida
How Massage Therapy Is Applied For Chronic Neck Pain
There are numerous types of massage, with variations in techniques, strokes, and pressure applied by the hands and other methods. Even in cases where only the neck is symptomatic, the massage is typically applied to the neck, shoulders, and back, because these regions are all connected.
Two of the more common types of massage to address neck pain include:
Swedish massage is the most common type in Western culture. It mostly focuses on long, steady strokes, which are typically performed in the direction of blood flow to the heart. Kneading and friction motions may also be included. One of the main goals of Swedish massage is to promote relaxation throughout the entire body.
Deep tissue massage typically uses deeper strokes and friction to work on deeper layers of the muscles and connective tissues. Also known as connective tissue massage, there are a wide variety of definitions for deep tissue massage, depending on the therapists techniques and philosophies. Compared to Swedish massage, a deep tissue massage commonly focuses more on an area of chronic pain.
Numerous other types of massage and variations also exist. For example, some massage therapists use special oils or other scents for aromatherapy, which in some cases might enhance the relaxation or enjoyment.
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Zyllion Shiatsu Back And Neck Massager
Unwind with a real-life massage experience and lay back onto this pillow for a deep kneading tension release. Featuring massage nodes which automatically change direction every minute to mimic a natural shiatsu hand massage, this is the perfect way to ease physical stresses such as overused and tight muscles.
The ergonomic design contours to your lower and upper back and provides highly effective results. It even has a heating function to enhance blood circulation. Ultra-compact and lightweight, carry with you wherever you go and attach to your favourite chair using the adjustable strap.
Buy now £108.69, Amazon
Is Theragun Good For Neck Pain
If youve been looking at different massage therapy gun options, youre likely familiar with the brand name Theragun . These massage guns have a dedicated following and are among the best you can buy. Other great brands include Hypervolt, and Vybe. All of them are great options for neck and shoulder pain, but if youre set on a Theragun, consider the Therabody Theragun PRO. Its a high-powered, best-in-class tool thats sure to melt away knots and feel amazing on your stiff, tired muscles.
No matter which massage therapy gun you choose, relief will soon be on the way! Keep scrolling to shop our picks for the best massage guns for neck and shoulder pain.
See more of ourbest product recommendations.
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Can You Sleep With A Neck Massager On
It depends. Some neck massagers, like massage pillows, are designed for overnight use.
If your massager is not specifically meant for this purpose, dont sleep with it on. You can over-ice or overheat the area.
Electrical devices that are attached to your neck or shoulder also pose a strangling hazard.
Efficacy Of Massage Therapy
Some studies have found that neck massage can provide some neck pain relief and improved range of motion, especially when performed by a trained professional a few times a week for several weeks. These results tend to be temporary.1,2
While some studies have found benefits for treating neck pain and stiffness with massage, other studies have not. Further complicating matters, there are a wide variety of massage therapy types and challenges with measuring how massage therapy is applied, which can make it a difficult treatment to study. Some research has indicated that applying a moderate-level massage is more beneficial than a light-touch massage.3
More research is needed to determine whether neck massage is beneficial for reducing chronic neck pain and stiffness, and whether the results can be sustained. Even though massage benefits may be temporary, it may still play a role in managing painful flare-ups and helping to improve quality of life.
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Some Of The Best Neck And Shoulder Massagers
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
Neck and shoulder massagers are devices that people can use to relieve muscle pain and stiffness. They are available from online providers, and some have a portable design and an adjustable massage intensity.
Stiff Neck Exercises: Massage Of The Posterior And Lateral Neck
In this section precise massage strokes as well as the pressure-motion technique are used.
- Take the Trigger Fairy in both hands and hold the curved portion in front of your face.
- Place the head of the Fairy directly on/below the base of the skull.
- To feel this area, place one or two fingers on the centre of the back of your head.
- Tilt your head forward and feel the ligament that emerges when you do that.
- Slide your fingers one to two centimetres to the left or right, depending on which side you wish to massage. From this point on feel out the muscles of your cervical spine.
Pressure from the side: Handle facing sideways.
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Giving Massages For Neck Pain
This massage targets the neck which can be strained from long hours of computer usage.
How to perform this massage:
This massage targets the strained muscles at the back of the neck. The muscles at the back of the neck tend to be strained due to prolonged mobile phone usage where your neck is kept downwards for a long period of time.