Strained muscle - Hope Clinic Care

Waking up with a stiff neck is definitely not a pleasant way to start your day. It can be painful, extremely inconvenient, and interfere with your daily routine and activities. With a stiff neck, even simple movements can be a little more difficult to do. In a lot of cases, strained neck muscles are a result of incorrect sleeping positions, but how could you have noticed the way you sleep when you are… well, asleep?

Fret not, although it might sound impossible to control how you sleep, there are some things you can do to minimize awkward sleeping positions! In addition to that, take a look at these main causes for a stiff neck and how to treat one.

Awkward sleeping positions

We all have our own preferred sleeping positions, but there are 3 main positions: back, side, and stomach. The position that is a total no-no is sleeping on your stomach! Why so? When you sleep on your stomach, your lower back will become strained, because your belly sinks into the bed, adding pressure on your spine. Your neck may also be twisted to one side for a long time, leading to strained neck muscles. Thus, in the morning, you will wake up feeling sore instead of feeling refreshed.

If you continue sleeping with this pattern for quite some time, your stiff neck problems may develop into something more serious, such as herniated disc or radiculopathy. Meanwhile, sleeping on the back may cause brief episodes of sleep apnea and some problems on the lower back as well, which is why professionals recommend sleeping on your side.

Unsuitable pillow

Choosing an appropriate pillow is crucial for a good quality of sleep. You need to make sure that your pillow can support your head and neck properly. A hard pillow might feel a tad uncomfortable, but oftentimes, neck problems are actually caused by a pillow that is too soft. Soft pillows cannot hold your head and neck properly like firm pillows do, creating tension in your neck muscles. When you use a firm pillow to sleep at night, it will help you in keeping your spine straight and aligned—from your atlas (located in the neck) to your tailbone, posing less of a risk to having a stiff neck. Using a feather pillow or pillows made with “memory foam” is recommended because they can conform with the shape of your head and neck, but make sure to change your pillow once they lose their firmness and shape.

Sudden movements

Sudden movements during your sleep, especially when you’re dreaming, such as flinging your limbs, rolling over, tossing and turning may create tension in and sprain your neck muscles.

Now that you know the primary causes of a stiff neck, what should you do when you experience it one morning? Should you just accept it and go on with your day with discomfort and pain? Absolutely not! Here are some simple, easy, and fairly quick ways to deal with a strained neck.

Ice or heat therapy

When you wake up with a stiff neck, put some ice on it for about 20 minutes to limit the swelling and cut down on inflammation. If the pain lingers until the next day, try replacing ice with heat (perhaps by using a warm towel or a heating pad). Put it on your strained neck for 20 minutes as well. Heat is known to relax your muscles and improve blood flow, which may reduce the pain and increase your neck’s range of motion.

Stretching and massage

Massaging the sore area of your neck gently can also help relax the muscles and increase blood flow, gradually improving your flexibility. However, you need to be careful to not overdo it and make it worse. Other than massaging, doing some stretching will help with your stiff neck, too.

Some stretching techniques that you can do:

Touch your right ear to your right shoulder and push the left side of your head gently for 10 seconds. Do the same with your left ear and left shoulder. Repeat these movements for 10 repetitions per side.
Slowly turn your head to the left until you feel a slight stretch (it’s alright if you cannot turn too far due to the strain) while standing with your neck and your back straight. Hold it for 10 seconds, then turn to the right and do the same thing. Repeat for 4-5 times per side. This is to increase your flexibility little by little without causing more pain.
Stand up straight, look up to the ceiling as far as you can, hold it for 10 seconds and come back to the starting position. Next, look down to the ground as far as you can (while still standing straight) and hold it for 10 seconds as well. Do 10 repetitions for each up and down movement.

Another thing that you can do to manage a stiff neck, especially if it’s getting worse, is to visit Hope Clinic and get appropriate treatment. Located in Scottsdale, AZ, you can get non-invasive and non-opioid treatment for your injuries. With an over 93% success rate, Hope Clinic offers excellent treatment procedures that are 100% drug-free!

Using verified hands-on techniques and dual modality devices, our therapists and professionals provide solutions to relieve pain by facilitating your body to maximize its healing and repairing ability. No drugs needed, yet just as effective—if not more. It’s time to say bye-bye to neck pain!

Contact us and book your session through (1) 480 659 5470 or visit https://hopecliniccare.com/contact-us/.

Learn more about stiff neck here:

Have you ever pulled a muscle and had to visit a physiotherapist to treat it? Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, is beneficial in many ways! Generally, physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when a person is injured or disabled, and it is suitable for people of all ages. Physiotherapists usually perform a combination of hands-on manual and exercise-based techniques to help patients achieve the best results, such as improved range of motion and flexibility.

Some of the health problems that physiotherapy can help include:

Bones, joints, and soft tissue – for example: back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and sports injuries.
Brain or nervous system – for example: movement issues resulting from a stroke or Parkinson’s disease.
Heart and circulation – such as rehabilitation after a heart attack.
Lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.

Other than these, physical therapy encompasses a wider range of varieties and benefits. There are several specific kinds of physiotherapy that serve different purposes. Here are 5 types of physiotherapy that you may not know!

Sports physiotherapy

This branch specifically deals with sport athletes and professionals, assessing and treating sports injuries at all levels. The main goal is to ensure that the athletes are not in pain anymore and are in their best condition, supporting their athletic performance and their overall health development.

Rehabilitation and pain management

Physiotherapy can help patients manage and get rid of various body aches and pains. The treatment methods are typically personalized to cater to specific patient needs and requirements.

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy

This type of physical therapy deals with pain experienced throughout the musculoskeletal system, which consists of the muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons. The purpose of the treatment is to increase mobilization, relieve pain, manage injuries, treat soft tissue damage, improve flexibility, and decrease the risks of getting injuries in the future.

Paediatric physiotherapy

If you have infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents who experience neuromuscular, developmental, or skeletal disorders, paediatric physiotherapy is the answer you need! The treatment techniques basically aim to enable children to move around freely and participate in the day-to-day activities, but physical therapy may also alleviate pain, improve fine and gross motor skills in children, help them regain range of motion & strength, and facilitate better cognitive processes.

Vestibular rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based program to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems. Signs of dizziness include: feelings of unsteadiness, being lightheaded, floating, tilting, sensations of moving and whirling (vertigo). Before the treatment plan is developed, a few tests must be conducted, such as balance, leg strength/flexibility, gait (the way an individual walks), neck mobility, neck & arm strength, visual stability & mobility, and positional testing (including an inner ear exam). The goal of your treatment plan is therefore to improve any deficits that were identified through the tests and the overall function of the body.

If you would like to book a physiotherapy session, feel free to contact Hope Clinic! Located in Scottsdale, AZ, Hope Clinic provides non-invasive and non-opioid treatment methods to treat your chronic pain. Our therapists and professionals are equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to give you the best possible personalized treatment. Reach out to us through +1 480 659 5470 or visit our website: https://hopecliniccare.com/contact-us/.

As an athlete, I’m very aware of my body and there’s nothing worse than when the body isn’t working, whether from an injury, recovering from surgery, or just the aging process. I’ve been told that I have a high tolerance for pain, and I often ignore what many other people might not be able to deal with. People don’t realize that a race car driver needs physical strength, and we endure tremendous amounts of vibration, concentration, and g forces. My career also requires me to travel for business and public appearances, so I spend a lot of time on airplanes and in hotels.

I was introduced to Dr. Okky Oei and his LTO (Laser Touch One) by a dear friend when I was dealing with considerable knee pain which ultimately led me to require bilateral knee replacement surgery. I know the LTO significantly accelerated my healing and it was so easy to take with me everywhere I traveled. It’s one of the first things I put in my suitcase when travelling.

Following knee replacement surgery I’ve had additional injuries and surgeries; including rotator cuff and bicep tendon surgery, fractured vertebrae, and hip placement surgery. While each of these surgeries and injuries involves very capable medical professionals (doctors, surgeons, physical therapists) each with their own specialty, their time and knowledge are often limited. That’s not the case with Dr. Okky Oei – he knows SO much, always has the time to spend to fully grasp what’s going on with your body and your life. And he’s trained each of his staff to follow the same protocols and attitude. They ask questions. They listen to you. They pay attention to what you’re telling them. They adjust your treatment to accommodate what’s happening, because the healing process evolves.

As an athlete who races cars, I’m always in a hurry about everything. Patience is not one of my attributes. And combining the aging process with my latest injuries my recovery has been incredibly difficult and slow. Seriously slow. I’m approaching the second anniversary of the crash that caused my latest problems, and while I’m considered one of the most positive people on the planet, I often started losing hope that I would ever heal. When I come to the Hope Clinic I often take a moment (and even take a photo) of the sign in the office, “Hope anchors the soul”. I guess I can credit Dr. Oei and the Hope Clinic to teach me patience. Also, the LTO is such a wonderful tool for all types of injuries, aches and pains, and sometimes just simple soreness. I often have to remind myself to use it because we forget to do some of the basic things we know we should do.

I’m a team-oriented person, and I consider Dr. Okky Oei and the Hope Clinic on my team! Put them on your team!

Lyn St. James

Everybody has experienced muscle strain at least once in a lifetime. Maybe you injured your back, or sprained an ankle. But what really causes a muscle strain? Well, it occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn, as a result of overusing it, incorrect posture, or fatigue—which is why professional athletes and fitness junkies may experience it often.

It’s not limited to them, though. Anyone from any age is exposed to the possibility of getting their muscle sprained. For instance, an office worker who sits in front of a computer all day long can also experience back pain, neck pain, or any ergonomic injury. Depending on its severity, it can be quite an annoyance, hindering us from doing our daily activities. No wonder why some people decide to ignore it and push through the pain.

Strained Muscle

However, that’s not the healthiest thing to do. There are consequences to deal with when you choose to leave a strained muscle untreated. For example, a small muscle tear will become larger if you ignore it, resulting in an even worse pain. Furthermore, it may lead to instability and disability of the affected body parts. Let’s say your Achilles tendon is injured, and you decide to neglect it. Over time, its tear will get bigger and it might turn into a full rupture, which means that the tendon has pulled apart completely and your heel is no longer connected to the calf muscle. Ouch.

So, what should you do when you tear a muscle? To a certain extent, it’s possible to treat it yourself. The first thing you need to do is… rest! Refrain from making too much movement. Then, you can either grab an ice pack, or put some ice inside a towel and compress it on the strained muscle for about 20 minutes. Repeat this step four to eight times a day. After 2 days, however, begin doing light stretching and activities with your injured muscle, because too much rest may cause stiffness or weakness.

In Hope Clinic Care, you can get non-invasive and non-opioid treatment for back pain, sprained ankle, or any other muscle strain. With an over 93% success rate, 100% drug-free excellent treatment procedures are guaranteed! Using verified hands-on techniques and dual modality devices, Hope Clinic Care provides solutions to relieve pain by facilitating your body to maximize its healing and repairing ability. No drugs needed, yet just as effective—if not more.

Decide to live pain-free naturally, today. Visit now at hopecliniccare.com, or call (1) 480 659 5470.

Fret not, although it might sound impossible to control how you sleep, there are some things you can do to minimize awkward sleeping positions! In addition to that, take a look at these main causes for a stiff neck and how to treat one.

Awkward sleeping positions

Unsuitable pillow

Sudden movements

Sudden movements during your sleep, especially when you’re dreaming, such as flinging your limbs, rolling over, tossing and turning may create tension in and sprain your neck muscles.

Now that you know the primary causes of a stiff neck, what should you do when you experience it one morning? Should you just accept it and go on with your day with discomfort and pain? Absolutely not! Here are some simple, easy, and fairly quick ways to deal with a strained neck.

Ice or heat therapy

Stretching and massage

Massaging the sore area of your neck gently can also help relax the muscles and increase blood flow, gradually improving your flexibility. However, you need to be careful to not overdo it and make it worse. Other than massaging, doing some stretching will help with your stiff neck, too.

Some stretching techniques that you can do:

Touch your right ear to your right shoulder and push the left side of your head gently for 10 seconds. Do the same with your left ear and left shoulder. Repeat these movements for 10 repetitions per side.

Stand up straight, look up to the ceiling as far as you can, hold it for 10 seconds and come back to the starting position. Next, look down to the ground as far as you can (while still standing straight) and hold it for 10 seconds as well. Do 10 repetitions for each up and down movement.

Using verified hands-on techniques and dual modality devices, our therapists and professionals provide solutions to relieve pain by facilitating your body to maximize its healing and repairing ability. No drugs needed, yet just as effective—if not more. It’s time to say bye-bye to neck pain!

Contact us and book your session through (1) 480 659 5470 or visit https://hopecliniccare.com/contact-us/.

Learn more about stiff neck here:

Some of the health problems that physiotherapy can help include:

Bones, joints, and soft tissue – for example: back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and sports injuries.

Brain or nervous system – for example: movement issues resulting from a stroke or Parkinson’s disease.

Heart and circulation – such as rehabilitation after a heart attack.

Lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.

Other than these, physical therapy encompasses a wider range of varieties and benefits. There are several specific kinds of physiotherapy that serve different purposes. Here are 5 types of physiotherapy that you may not know!

Sports physiotherapy

Rehabilitation and pain management

Physiotherapy can help patients manage and get rid of various body aches and pains. The treatment methods are typically personalized to cater to specific patient needs and requirements.

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy

Paediatric physiotherapy

Vestibular rehabilitation

Read more:

I’m a team-oriented person, and I consider Dr. Okky Oei and the Hope Clinic on my team! Put them on your team!

Lyn St. James

Decide to live pain-free naturally, today. Visit now at hopecliniccare.com, or call (1) 480 659 5470.