Things you should know when you have stiff shoulders or can't turn your neck
There's something you should know when you have stiff shoulders or can't turn your neck. The neck is a weak area that is easily affected by the lower back and legs, which are far away from the neck. Therefore, when solving neck and shoulder problems, it's important to check to see if the cause is in a different area.
There are many different situations where you can't turn your head.
・When you wake up in the morning, you suddenly can't turn your neck (stiff neck)
・When you turn around, you suddenly can't turn your neck (stiff neck)
・Cases where you normally have difficulty turning your neck
The degree and causes of neck stiffness vary, but most people who experience neck stiffness or stiff necks have one thing in common: there is no underlying cause in the neck.
The human spine runs from the neck to the hips, but the neck bones are thinner than the hip bones.
This is because the neck bones have become thinner in exchange for gaining more mobility, and the neck muscles have also become less.
However, because our necks have an unstable structure, they are easily pulled by powerful muscles. Where are these powerful muscles located?
The illustration shows an examination to see if loosening the muscles in the lower body improves neck rotation.
Ask the patient to turn their neck while bending their hips. This may cause the neck to start moving even if it was previously motionless.
This hip flexion test revealed that the muscles causing the neck problems were in the lower body.
Lack of exercise and smartphone use have a big impact on the neck and shoulders, but it is rare for the neck and shoulders to be the only areas affected. Rather, the effects that extend to the lower back and legs exacerbate neck and shoulder problems.
You may have tried all sorts of things, like consciously moving your shoulders or stretching your armpits, but the reason you still haven't felt better is because of the order in which you loosen them. If you allow muscles that have more power than your neck and shoulders to cause your body to become unbalanced, the discomfort will continue indefinitely.
To solve problems such as stiff shoulders or neck stiffness, it is important to find out which part of your body is not moving properly, and then stretch the muscles that are restricting movement, starting with the larger muscles.
- Chairs and pillows are being redesigned
- Doing yoga and stretching
- Have received massage treatments
The key to solving this problem is to understand your body's habits
We now know that problems often occur in muscles other than the neck and shoulders, but how can we determine the exact cause?
There are approximately 400 muscles that support the body's framework. With so many, it can be difficult to determine which muscle is causing the problem. This is where testing comes in.
The illustration shows an examination of the back muscles. The reason for checking this area is that it is the strongest muscle that supports the back and has a large impact on the neck.
Ideally, you should be able to turn your body to the side on both sides. If you use the muscles on the left and right sides of your back unevenly, there will be a difference in how easily you can turn your body.
One reason for the difference in how the back muscles are used on each side is scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Many people have slight scoliosis that does not require medical treatment.
The tilt of the spine can sometimes be caused by abdominal muscles, so if you have problems with this test, the pain in your neck and shoulders will only be relieved once you have relaxed your abdominal muscles.
Treatment record
Let's take a look at the records to see what steps can be taken to improve the symptoms of not only being unable to turn the neck but also stiff shoulders.
- Symptoms: I can't turn my neck. Stiff shoulders. Occasional headaches.
- Age: 20s
- Job: Desk work
- What I've tried: Chiropractic, yoga
If we were to put the events up to now in chronological order, it would look something like this:
- He suffered from frozen shoulder when he was in high school.
- I exercised a lot while I was in college, so I didn't have shoulder pain.
- Since joining the workforce, I've been experiencing stiffness in my neck and shoulders due to desk work.
- I was told at a chiropractic clinic that my pelvis was out of alignment.
- Temporarily practice yoga
- It seems that the cause is a misalignment of the pelvis, but I'm having trouble resolving my neck and shoulder problems.
Various tests will be performed to find the cause. Various parts of the body have a limited range of movement. If you are unable to move as you should, or if it is difficult to move up and down or to the left or right, that may be the cause of the pain.
Test results
The examination revealed that factors that cause hunched posture were hidden in a wide area, including the legs, chest, and neck.
Turn your head from side to side to check neck movement.
It is desirable for the robot to move about 60° to both sides, but if you turn to the left, it will stop halfway.
These neck problems don't just affect the neck. When the neck can't move, the chest and lower back can take over, but eventually, strain builds up and can cause lower back pain.
When it is difficult to turn to the left, it is often because the left shoulder blade is not in the correct position. Since the frozen shoulder occurred on the left shoulder a long time ago, it is likely that there has been a problem with the left shoulder blade for some time.
Next, I checked the shoulder blades.
Although the patient complains of pain in the neck and shoulders, I don't touch them from the start. There are two reasons for this.
① Inflammation worsens and the number of visits to the hospital increases
When you massage your shoulders, it definitely improves blood circulation, which feels good for a moment. However, the muscles causing pain are inflamed, so pressing on them will only make the inflammation worse. This will result in constant pain, and during the treatment, it will be impossible to tell whether your symptoms are improving or not.
This makes it impossible to tell on the spot whether the symptoms have improved, so we end up saying, "That's all for today. Let's see how it goes for a while," which results in the patient having to come to the clinic more often. This is not desirable as it increases the burden on the customer.
② There is no cause in the area where the pain is occurring
When you have neck or shoulder pain, the cause is often far away, in the lower back or legs. Massaging your shoulders may feel good, but it doesn't really improve the underlying cause.
Also, the muscles that are causing pain may not be relaxed, and the more treatment you receive, the worse the pain will become.
For these two reasons, even if the patient complains of pain in their neck and shoulders, we do not touch their neck or shoulders from the start.
Treatment details
We will introduce you to a holistic treatment.
When you hear the word "chiropractic," you may imagine correcting distortions like "pelvic adjustment," but in fact, we intentionally cause distortions.
A habit in the body is when you tend to move or lean in a direction that is easy for you, even if it is incorrect. By moving in a way that encourages this habit, you can guide your body into correct posture.
In the illustration, the patient is performing movements that intentionally increase arching of the lower back in order to correct the arching of the lower back. By adding appropriate resistance to these movements, the tilt of the pelvis is guided back into the correct position.
Since it is light strength training to apply resistance, we took breaks in between. It is a bodywork treatment that improves the body while leaving you feeling refreshed and tired.
The patient was asked to try the movements that had caused pain during the examination prior to the treatment. The patient confirmed that there were no problems with the neck movements that had been of greatest concern to her.
I suggested that she continue exercising like she did in her student days. I knew from experience that exercise can improve shoulder stiffness, but exercising with a body that isn't functioning properly only moves the muscles and joints that are easy to move, putting a lot of strain on them. The yoga that she stopped doing is also an excellent form of exercise, so now that she has regained her natural muscle movement, she should be able to feel its effects even more.
We will then teach you some exercises to reset your body's habits, and then the treatment is complete.
The neck is the highest part of the human body and is affected by the entire body, making it difficult to solve. We will answer the questions that many people encounter when trying to solve their problems.
You won't know unless you examine it.
I highly recommend you try stretching. Stretching can be extremely effective if you target the areas that need stretching. That's why there's a key point to keep in mind: how to identify the muscles that are causing the stretch and how to stretch them safely.
To achieve optimal results, follow these steps:
1. Check the background of the problem, such as what caused it and your lifestyle habits
2. Conduct an inspection to identify the contributing factors
3. Treatment
4. Retest to confirm that the expected results are achieved
One of the reasons for asking about the background of ① is that if there has been a major external influence such as an accident, the test results may be inconsistent. This is to prevent incorrect treatment.
The purpose of alternating between the examinations and treatments from ② to ④ is to constantly check whether the treatment plan is correct. It is the same idea as using a map and compass to check your direction to get to your destination.
Just like fingerprints, the condition of each person's neck is different, so it is extremely difficult to select a stretch that is "OK" without examining the individual. Therefore, there are risks involved in trying a stretch selected from the many available without a clear basis for its effectiveness.
The risk is that you may be loosening muscles that shouldn't be loosened. If you loosen the muscles that are pulling on your posture to prevent it from getting worse, it will only get worse. I once stretched the wrong muscles, which left me unable to walk and left me with a hunched back that I've never experienced before. This is why you should be careful when choosing stretches.
The answer to the question, "What stretches are good for stiff shoulders or stiff neck?" can only be found by seeing someone who is knowledgeable.
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Steps to solve the problem holistically
The way we use our bodies, learned from childhood through play, sports, accidents, childbirth and other events, has shaped the physical condition we have today.
If you are experiencing pain, it is simply your body's way of telling you that there is a problem with the way you have been using your body up until now.
The first step to solving the problem is to stop the pain. After identifying the cause through an examination and then performing treatment, the pain will be reduced. Only after the pain has been alleviated will you be ready to learn how to use your body correctly.
The second step is to learn how to use your body correctly. This will change your body and brain so that you don't go back to your old state.
Since physical pain is often caused by lifestyle habits, stretching and exercise are necessary. Just like brushing your teeth, consistent practice is important.
If you want to solve your pain, you need to stop the pain first, then stretching and exercise can come afterwards.
