Neck pain is one of the most common muscular disorders adults experience. You can wake up with a crick in your neck after sleeping in an uncomfortable position, suffer a sore and achy neck as a result of sitting at a desk hunched over a computer for a prolonged duration or suffer neck pain due to a muscle strain or sprain, pinched nerves or due to injury.
Massage therapy is one of the best alternative treatments for neck pain. In fact, nearly 1 in every 5 massage sessions booked in the US are due to neck pain! Regular massage sessions help relieve neck pain and prevent future neck pain by relaxing the body, soothing muscles, alleviating tension, keeping joints limber, and improving posture, flexibility and neck mobility.
So what type of massage is best for neck pain relief? Here are the best massages for neck pain relief.
Best Neck Pain Massage Techniques
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage entails using oil/lotion and long steady gliding strokes, kneading and rolling motions performed with the hands and fingertips. It has a relaxing effect on the whole body. By stretching muscles and tissues and stimulating and relaxing nerves, Swedish massage boosts circulation, increases flexibility, and helps alleviate muscular tension and relieve neck pain. This popular massage technique also loosens the neck and increases its range of motion.
Deep Tissue Massage
The best massage for chronic neck pain is deep tissue massage. It involves the use of deeper strokes and friction to work on deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues. The massage therapist will use their palm, elbow and forearm to apply more pressure to reach deeper layers of muscle tissue and dissipate chronic tension, stiffness and pain in the neck.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger points are tight nodules that form in muscles and cause pain. Trigger point massage involves stimulating the trigger points that cause neck pain to cause them to release, alleviate muscle spasms, improve circulation and alleviate pain.
Reflexology and Acupressure
Certain sections of the feet and other body parts are connected to the neck. Gently massaging and stimulating these points using the thumb and fingers helps stimulate nerve endings, which calms the body and brings about release of tension and pain in the neck.
Ideal Length and Frequency of Massage for Neck Pain Relief
Longer massage sessions scheduled regularly are the best way to alleviate and prevent neck pain. According to this study, 60-minute sessions one to three times a week are significantly more beneficial than 30-minute sessions.
Massage for Neck Pain Overview
If your neck hurts, definitely get a massage for neck pain! A number of studies have proven that massage is good for neck pain. Massage sessions performed by a trained massage therapist can help you feel better and even prevent recurrent pain. Most neck pains go away on their own in a few weeks. If you don’t experience relief in a few weeks it is best to see a physician.
References
Benefits of Therapeutic Massage for Chronic Neck Pain (Study) – National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Looking for massage for neck pain near you? Call Higher Living Bodywork at (929) 500-2041 to book yourself a massage session for neck pain relief! I am a licensed massage therapist and can offer my therapeutic services at the comfort of your home or in our studio space in Williamsburg Brooklyn!