Stiffness. Pain. Everyone wakes up feeling these symptoms in their neck from time to time. But if you find yourself consistently waking up stiff and achy, you may have an issue that requires treatment.
Neck pain is a very common issue; in fact, medical researchers estimate that almost 80% of people have an episode of neck pain every year. Achy or stiff necks can be a minor problem that’s easily remedied. In other cases, your doctor may have diagnosed a condition or ailment that can benefit from physical therapy.
Why is my neck stiff and achy when I wake up?
Neck tissue often becomes irritated throughout the day, and by the evening, you might be too tired to even notice it. When you fall asleep and remain mostly immobile overnight, that allows the inflammation to grow in your neck tissue.
The result is that when you wake up in the morning, your neck is stiff and achy. After you start moving around, the inflammation can often decrease. In turn, this means the pain might decrease.
Conditions that can cause a stiff and achy neck
If your doctor has diagnosed you with a specific condition that’s causing your stiff and achy neck, physical therapy can probably help. Here are some of the most common ailments that can be relieved with the guidance of a physical therapist:
All these conditions can cause aching, stiffness and neck pain. Our physical therapists can work with you to help you achieve a greater range of motion with affected limbs or joints, and to treat your pain so you can enjoy a better quality of life.
Treatment tips for stiff and achy necks
Your physical therapy regimen will largely depend on your specific symptoms or diagnosis. However, there are a lot of common recommendations that work hand in hand with physical therapy. Here are some tips that your physical therapist will likely share with you that can help your stiff and achy neck:
- Get good sleep — Getting enough sleep at night creates a circular benefit with physical therapy exercises. When you get enough sleep, it increases your ability to effectively exercise. When you exercise regularly, it helps you to get better sleep. Better sleep habits and physical exercise are a powerful “one-two punch” for keeping aches and stiffness away.
- Focus on using better posture — If your work requires you to sit at a desk for long hours, or if you stay sedentary for long periods every day, try to get up every half hour for some light stretches. Move around to keep your circulation going, which can help relieve neck pain.
- Improve your diet — Be sure to consume lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. These healthy foods have more antioxidants and vitamins, which fight off the inflammation that can lead to neck pain. A better diet can also help you to get better sleep and helps your body receive more benefit from exercise.
Border Therapy Services can help treat your neck pain
Frequently dealing with a neck that’s stiff and achy? Our Border Therapy Services team is primed to help you find relief. We offer free screenings designed to pinpoint the cause of your neck symptoms. Additionally, our team excels at constructing personalized therapy plans for many different conditions that can cause neck pain and stiffness.
Can’t leave home right now to get the therapy you need? Don’t worry! We offer multiple therapy services that can help you get effective therapy from home, including virtual care and at-home therapy. You can even start using our services without a doctor’s recommendation.
Contact us today for more information about how we can treat neck issues or to schedule your free screening.