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Lynne Brick's Fit Tips ArchiveLynne Brick's Fit Tip #3, 2008 — Are your skin care products making you sick?
What kind of pain could possibly be worse than back pain? A pain in the neck! Neck pain has been steadily increasing over the past two decades and is now second to back pain as the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Most important for us girls, women are more likely to suffer from persistent neck pain. Why? It appears largely due to repetitive tasks such as working at a computer keyboard.
A recent study on women with neck pain found that specific strength training exercises led to a significant prolonged relief of neck muscle pain long after training ended. Conclusion: Specific strength training locally of the neck and shoulder muscles is the most beneficial treatment in women with chronic neck muscle pain. * That is good news you can use!
Here are three neck and shoulder strength training exercises:
- Shoulder Shrugs: Hold milk cartons or 5 – 10 pound dumbbells in your hands with a loose grip. Simply raise your shoulders up to your ears. Roll your shoulders in a backward direction as if you are placing them in your back hip pocket. Repeat 10-12 times.
- Ear to Shoulder Press: Lower your right ear toward your right shoulder. Place your right hand on top and on the left side of your head. Press your head into your hand as you press your hand into your head. Hold for 3-5 seconds. Relax, exhale and stretch your ear closer to your shoulder. Repeat three more times. Reverse other side.
- Chin to Chest Press: Lower your chin toward your chest. Link your fingers together and place your hands behind the back of your head. Press down on your hands as you press up with the back of your head. You will feel the muscles in the back of your neck tighten up. Repeat 10-12 times.
* If neck pain persists, please be sure to see your physician and/ or a physical therapist. Similar to back pain, you don’t want to aggravate a pre-existing disc issue.
You Go Girl!
Resources:
www.LynneBricks.com
http://www.IHRSA.org/
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Answer to last week's fitness quiz: What is the recommended amount of weight to lose per week?
One to three pounds per week.
Question of the Week: What is a bulging disc?
Please reply to me: Lynne.Brick@BrickBodies.com
Corny Joke of the Week:
IF ONLY LIFE COULD BE LIKE A COMPUTER! - If you messed up your life, you could press "Ctrl, Alt, Delete" and start all over!
Please feel free to send your reply or comment to Lynne or post questions or comments on the Fit Tips Message Board.
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