The Real Reason Neck Tightness Won't Go Away- From a Professional

Ah yes, your neck, besides the "my back hurts all the time" comment I receive, there is the ever favorite "my neck is always tight." There are articles, podcasts and videos abound to tell you how bad your posture is and how to fix it. Posture has become somewhat of a trigger word lately, of every doctor showing ways to fix it or how to use this contraption they are selling to fix your posture. I thought today we could get into the nitty gritty of why your neck is always tight, a couple of reasons for it, and how to fix it.

1) YOUR CHEST IS CHRONICALLY TIGHT

Thats right, my first solve for this has nothing to do with your neck at all. You see, when you round your back and shoulder blades all the time, our chests become shorts and more concave, pulling your armpits (aka your pec muscles) closer to the center of your chest. Over time if left without stretching, this will pull the muscles right underneath your collarbone down. And with that next come your traps (the muscles right next to your neck that curve), and then eventually your neck has no choice but to lean forward because all of the other ligaments and muscles are telling it to.

I know that there are devices you can wear on your chest that wrap around your back, pulling your shoulder blades back and broadening your chest. That is all fine, but you still never solved the problem in the first place. Broadening your back and stretching your muscles are entirely different. We can't just "open" your chest, we need to stretch your chest, but also your traps, pecs, shoulders, and sometimes your abs to help support your chest. Your chest is a huge muscle group that needs a lot of stretching, and CONSTANT stretching for it to hold you up properly.

2) YOU WERE IN A MAJOR OR MINOR CAR WRECK

This explanation seems a little less obvious to your reasons behind your neck pain. But I am speaking from experience here when I say a car wreck, even the most minor, won't do some damage, even minute. I had a car wreck in my twenties, and I promise you my right side of my body up to my neck has never been the same since. I have to constantly stretch it and pull the muscles back for my neck and shoulder blade to not get very tight all of the time. Every car wreck does some damage to your neck and shoulder blades. Even slightly pulling them out of alignment, and if you don't stretch a lot, that can turn into chronic neck tightness. But it won't show up for quite a while. So, remember if you go see a chiropractor for neck pain or a physical therapist, be sure to tell them EVERYTHING that has happened to your neck and back. Even that minor fender bender when you were eighteen, still counts.

3) YOU GO TO YOGA BUT NEGLECT TO STRETCH YOUR MINOR MUSCLES

This one I have to say is the second biggest complaint I see and hear. "But Ally I go to yoga three times a week and I still have neck pain, should I see my doctor?" That would be a no. I teach yoga five times a week and let me remind everyone: YOGA IS A WORKOUT!! There is stretching involved, but we do not hold the stretches long enough for someone who is chronically tight or has an injury to fix it. Especially the New Age yoga we have here in America, is all focused on burning the greatest number of calories in a class, not necessarily the most rejuvenating stretching going on in these classes. Also depending on the class, you will stretch your legs, hips, shoulders, everything BUT your neck and chest. That means when you get home, you need to spend some time stretching those minor muscles and taking care of them. Make sure your WHOLE body is given the stretching attention it deserves.