Neck Pain Prevention and Relief

To try to prevent neck pain, you should take good care of your body and practice healthy habits. You should:

• Reduce your stress and tension.
• Sit and stand properly.
• Exercise both your neck and body regularly. (Aerobic exercise is especially good.)
• Attain and maintain a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking.
• Eat healthy and get enough calcium.
• Lift heavy items safely.
• Wear a seat belt.
• Use proper sports equipment.

Taking care of your neck is a lifetime endeavor. Lifestyle changes are the best road to wellness. So stick your neck out and take time to learn, adjust to, and adopt habits that will help preserve your neck and spine for years to come.

Sports Alert: The Stinger Injury
A stinger, also called a burner, is an injury that occurs when the head or neck is hit to one side causing the shoulder to be pulled in the opposite direction. This is most common among high school athletes, but it can happen to anyone. The sideways hit causes immediate and intense pain as well as a tingling or burning sensation in the neck that runs down the arm to the fingers. The arm may be weak for a few minutes or for as long as a few weeks. Stingers typically go away by themselves, but sometimes they require medical treatment. Players who experience stinger symptoms should immediately report them to their coaches or team physicians despite the risk of being removed from the game. Ignoring or playing through a stinger can lead to more serious injuries.

To prevent a stinger injury you should focus on strengthening neck muscles, use appropriate safety equipment and good technique in contact sports, and, in the context of football, avoid spearing (head down tackling).