Does poor sleeping posture cause a stiff neck?

It’s a common experience for people to wake up with a stiff neck, making it difficult to move. Even the slightest movement can cause unbearable pain, preventing them from turning their head. Although many believe it’s due to poor sleeping posture, the cause is only sometimes straightforward. Your neck may be indicating a problem that needs attention. 

What exactly is a stiff neck, and what are its symptoms?

A stiff neck is medically called “neck and shoulder myofascial pain.” It is generally caused by the muscles of the neck excessive tension for a long time. Typically, young people are more likely to suffer from the disease. 

The following typical symptoms often occur:

1. Before going to bed, there are no abnormalities. However, upon waking up, you may experience pain and discomfort in your neck, typically on one side. This pain can worsen when transitioning from lying down to standing up and may cause shoulder and back pain.

2. The neck’s mobility is limited, and it may be difficult to rotate or move the head up and down in severe cases.

3. When muscles are stiff, the head may tilt towards the side of pain. Turning the head to the opposite side can make the pain significantly worse.

A stiff neck usually resolves within a few days, but severe cases may require weeks or months to recover.

When experiencing a stiff neck, consider external triggers and internal causes.

Three factors can typically cause a stiff neck:

1. Sleeping in an incorrect position.

Lying on your stomach or excessively curling your body while sleeping can cause neck muscles to stretch for a long time, leading to spasms.

2. The pillow needs to be more suitable.

Pillows that are too high, low, soft, or hard can cause muscle spasms by overstretching or flexing the neck muscles.

3. Catch a chill in the neck

This situation often occurs during summer when many people like to sleep with the air conditioner on. However, prolonged neck exposure to a low-temperature environment can cause poor blood circulation, leading to muscle stiffness and pain.

To understand why it happens, we need to look at the neck muscles that control daily movements, such as raising, lowering, and turning the head. Unfortunately, more and more people spend long hours sitting at their desks or looking down at their phones. This overuse of the neck muscles causes their fibers to become less elastic over time, making them more prone to stiffness. Occasionally, improper sleeping posture, an uncomfortable pillow, or exposure to cold or dampness can further exacerbate the problem.

Acupuncture treatment

While it may appear to be a minor issue, a stiff neck can considerably impact one’s quality of life. By actively utilizing acupuncture and herbal medicine during the initial acute stage, local circulation can be improved, reducing the duration of the condition and alleviating unnecessary discomfort.

If you experience recurring stiff neck symptoms due to long-term neck muscle strain, it may be more than just a simple stiff neck. It could be a condition known as cervical spondylosis. It is essential to properly seek medical attention to address this issue as soon as possible.

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