Healthy muscles have an adequate level of elasticity,
which is provided by smooth circulation of water and blood in the cell. However,
if you keep the same posture for a long time or suffer from built-up fatigue,
blood circulation becomes stagnant,
causing your muscles to become rigid. This rigidity of muscles is called "stiffness" and muscle stiffness in the shoulder region is called "stiff neck."
Mechanism of stiff neck
In normal muscles, fatigue substances such as lactic acid which have been accumulated in the muscle are degraded
by oxygen in the blood. However, if you keep the same posture at work or are constantly strained,
your muscles become rigid and blood circulation becomes diminished because the blood vessels are compressed.
Muscles in the shoulder region, in particular, which sling the shoulder blades and support the arms and the
hands easily become strained and are apt to be affected by stress, blood pressure, and autonomic nervous system.
When the shoulder muscles are rigid and collect fatigue substances, they irritate the nerves, thereby causing pain.
This is the mechanism of stiff neck.
Points on the prevention of stiff neck
Point 1. Keep a good posture
Avoid a posture where possible that causes the neck or the shoulders to be strained and take "a good posture"
which lets your back to be naturally stretched.
If you keep the same posture at work or do handwork for hours on end, you should take a rest from time to
time to relax by turning arms and neck.
Point 2. Exercise to strengthen your muscles
Lack of exercise is also one of the causes of stiff neck.
Relieve mental strain and strengthen your muscles by cultivating a habit of taking moderate exercise.
Sports that cause various parts of your body to move, such as swimming, tennis and aerobics, are desirable.
Point 3. Take good measures to cope with stress.
Stiff neck is easily caused by strong mental stress as well as physical strain.
You should secure a place where you can relax in your everyday life.
In addition, try to take the vitamin B group, vitamins C and E, etc. which do much to prevent irritation or stress.
Care about stiff neck
Care 1. Warm the affected area
Try to warm the stiff area by taking a bath or placing a warm compress.
Warming the stiff area causes the blood vessels to dilate so that blood circulation improves.
You can get the same effect by massaging your shoulders and neck.
Care 2. Take exercise.
Exercises, such as stretching which extends muscles and lessens muscle tone and muscle training
which strengthens muscles, also go a long way to ward relief of stiff neck.
Try to take moderate exercises of the neck, the shoulders and the arms.
Care 3. Use drugs.
For relief of tough stiff neck, marketed are NSAIDs which relieve muscle or joint pain,
blood circulation ameliorators which improve blood circulation and soften the muscles in the affected area,
and oral drugs containing the vitamin B group which acts on the nerve and vitamin E which facilitates blood circulation.
A topical drug and an oral one, if combined in use, would do a much better job than either alone.
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Product for stiff neck
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SATOGESIC
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SATOGESIC LOTION
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SATOGESIC COOL GEL
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SATOGESIC HOT GEL
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SATOGESIC HOT PADS
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YUNKER E
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