Tips for Dealing with a Stiff Neck

There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning with a sore neck that is difficult to move! But if you find yourself dealing with a stiff neck, Dr. Murphy explains the possible causes and offers a few tips to help!

Why am I waking up with a stiff neck?

Common causes for your morning neck soreness can be from the prior days prolonged sitting, increased screen time, or poor posture. Another common cause is when we use a pillow that is too thick and it pushes our head and neck forward.

What is the first thing I should do if my neck is sore in the morning?

Heat helps many things including neck soreness and stiffness. Before stretching the neck, warming it up with hot water in the shower is an effective and easy solution. Let the hot water hit the base of your neck and practice 20 slow repetitions of turning your head to look over your shoulders.

What if the soreness continues throughout the day?

If soreness continues at work, take a small towel, soak it in water, wring it out so that it is not dripping water, microwave for three minutes, use tongs to put steaming towel in a dry towel, wrap it, place around your neck for 10 minutes of moist heat therapy.

What if I can’t move my head all the way from one side to the other because of the soreness?

If neck soreness prevents you from turning head fully throughout the entire day, it’s time to see your local chiropractor.

Is there anything I can do to prevent my neck from being sore when I wake up?

Having the right pillow that allows the skull to sink into the pillow, but comes up to support the neck is the correct pillow fit. If the pillow is too thick, you will be looking at your feet when lying on your back. No Good!

Learn More!

To schedule an appointment or if you have questions about dealing with a stiff neck, call Stamford Spine at (203) 580-3232.

Find information here about what to expect during your first visit. Initial visits last one hour so that we have time to thoroughly assess your complaints and determine the best course of action. This initial evaluation helps us to determine the specific cause of your symptoms. From there, we will develop a unique treatment plan tailored to helping you heal as quickly as possible.