The Road to 100 Fit Tip #74 – How to Get Rid of a Stiff Neck

July 15, 2011 By: Victor Brick

Here is a simple technique to reduce discomfort and restore range of motion when suffering from a stiff neck due to muscular imbalance and tension.

1. Test your range of motion looking to the right and looking to the left. Depending on which side is limited, place your hand on the opposite side of your head with the fingers along the temple line and the thumb at the corner of the jaw. Push with moderate pressure on your hand with your head for a 4-count (one thousand-one, one thousand-two, one thousand-three, one thousand-four). Release. If need be, repeat the routine. Your range of motion should have increased to the restricted side because you fatigued the muscle group preventing the contraction to that side, that being the OPPOSITE muscle group to the side you are turning.

1. Test your range of motion looking up and looking down. Again, depending on which direction is restricted, fatigue the OPPOSITE Muscle group by doing the following:

• If your range of motion is restricted looking DOWN, place both hands behind your head with the fingers of each hand on the top of the skull and the thumbs at the base of the skull. Apply moderate pressure with your head pushing UP against your hands for a four-count. Release. Repeat if necessary.
• If your range of motion is restricted looking UP, place your hands in front of your face with the fingers on the forehead above the eyebrows and the thumbs on the jaw line. Apply moderate pressure with your head pushing DOWN on your hands for a four-count. Release. Repeat if necessary.

These exercises are easier to follow when you watch the accompanying video.

As with many things in life, the secret is to push in the OPPOSITE direction that you think you should.

One final note. Do not push too hard with your head. You can easily strain your neck muscles and then you would be in a worse position than when you started. If that happens, don’t blame me.

This week’s corny joke: How much can a koala bear?