A Tip to Quickly Relieve Stiffness and Pain in the Neck

The acute stiffness and pain of the neck is one of the most common conditions in my clinic and it often can be relieved after one treatment.

In Chinese Medicine, Liver governs the tendons and stores the Blood, as well as emotion. Liver Blood nourishes the muscles and tendons in our body. If a person is overstressed or has an intense lifestyle, which may deplete the function of nourishing muscles and tendons, the person will have stiffness and pain in the joints. Prolonged bad posture when using mobile phones and computers makes the neck lack blood nourishment and be more vulnerable.

There is a good acupoint to relieve stiffness and pain in the neck—LuoZhen (落枕). This point is located on the back side of the hand, in the depression just proximal to the second and third metacarpophalangeal joints (Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker 1998). It can not only quickly relieve the stiffness and pain of the neck, but also immobility of turning the head.

If you are suffering from an acute pain in the neck, for example the right side, massage LuoZhen with a moderate pressure on the right hand whilst rotating and extending the head for about one minute. You may feel the pain reducing while massaging it. Please note chronic and severe cases will need to seek professional consultation.

Manage stress, regular exercise, massage, acupuncture, apply heat, and stretching may be considered to prevent recurrent episodes (Morrison 2020).

Reference

• Deadman, P., Al-Khafaji, M. & Baker, K. 1998, A manual of acupuncture, Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, Hove, East Sussex.

• Morrison, W. 2020, How to Prevent and Treat a Stiff Neck: Remedies and Exercises, Healthline, viewed 11/10/2020 2020, <https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-a-stiff-neck>.