Why Your Neck Stretches Aren’t Working | Physical Therapy for everyBODY
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Why Your Neck Stretches Aren’t Working

Neck Stretch

Do you Suffer from Chronic neck pain and ever wonder –

Why don’t my neck stretches work?

Even though you’ve Googled and YouTubed them about a hundred times!

There are a few reasons why stretching your neck might not be doing anything to help you get rid of your neck pain.

  • Your technique could be off
  • You could be doing the wrong stretch
  • It could be that you just shouldn’t be stretching your neck at all!

Let’s go over the different reasons why your neck stretches might not be working. And, most importantly, what you can do about it.

Reason 1

You’re doing it wrong.

Although research studies are inconclusive regarding how long you should hold a particular stretch, most people hold a stretch for 30-60 seconds. This may actually be too long. You see, when you are holding the stretch for this long the tissues may have a chance to get too long. This causes micro tears in the tissue you are stretching. Which is not what you are going for.

The goal of stretching is to get the muscle itself to lengthen. This is done by getting the muscle fibers to gently relax. When you are stretching, we recommend a 10 second hold.

When it comes to technique, one of the biggest problems I see is not relaxing enough. If you’re tense or gripping the muscles at the same time you are stretching, it won’t work very well. It’s important to breathe and move easily into the stretch. If you try to force it or push through the pain, you’ll likely tense up.

Now, let’s say you’re doing everything right (not tensing or gripping) but your stretches still don’t seem to work.

Some people (myself included) respond better to “moving stretches”. Instead of holding one static position for a prolonged period, you repeatedly move through one or several end-range stretches. Neck rolls are a great example of this.

If your neck stretches haven’t been working, try adjusting the way you’ve been stretching. If it works, then you were likely just using the wrong technique.

Reason 2

You’re doing the wrong type of stretch.

This one could be a little tougher to figure out on your own. There is a difference between corrective neck stretching and stretching to feel good.

For example, let’s say your neck is tightening because you’ve been under a lot of stress or you just did a lot of activity that impacts your neck. Generic neck stretches such as bringing your chin to your chest, or pulling your chin to the opposite shoulder (known as an “upper trap stretch”) may be all you need.

In fact, I do stretches like this regularly because I’m constantly leaning over to help patients. I stretch my neck to PREVENT it from having problems and because it feels good.

But let’s say you already have a neck problem, or you have pain and numbness running down your arm.

In these instances, generic neck stretching could make you worse.

You likely need corrective stretches, like what we prescribe for patients in our office.

Corrective stretches are specifically prescribed to address your particular problem in your neck – and are very different from the generalized stretches that are designed to feel good and relieve tension.

If you think you might need corrective stretches for your neck – DO NOT Google them! You must see a specialist and have them prescribed for you.

Reason 3

You shouldn’t be stretching your neck at all!

This is a very common problem we see. People come in with complaints of chronic tightness and discomfort in their neck. No matter how often they stretch or massage, it doesn’t go away.

Did you know that chronic neck tightness can be a sign of a weak core?

It’s actually quite common. And, if that is the case for you, no amount of stretching will help. In fact, it could even aggravate your problem!

The deep, stabilizing muscles of your neck are connected by fascia to the deep muscles of your core. If your deep core is not working properly, then your neck will often kick in and try to help.

Ever notice that your neck is always sore and tight after a good ab workout?

This could be a sign that your neck is compensating for your core.

Stop stretching your neck, learn how to strengthen your core the right way, and see a specialist who can help you.

In our office, our team of specialist work to help people improve their core strength from the inside out – so that their necks and backs stop getting involved.

If you’re dealing with chronic neck problems that aren’t responding to stretching…

There’s a good chance you could be not stretching correctly, the stretches aren’t right for you, or you’ve completely missed the root cause of your neck pain and you shouldn’t be stretching at all!

Do you want to work with our team of specialists and finally get some help for your neck problem?

Click here to request a Free Discovery Visit with one of our specialists. During this visit, we will get a chance to hear your story and learn more about your neck journey. You can get all of your questions answered. Together, we can determine if you are a good fit for what we do here at Physical Therapy for everyBODY.

Our Free Discovery Visit is perfect for people who are finally ready for a long term solution to their pain. One that will put an end to constantly relying on pain pills – and help you avoid expensive procedures and risky surgery.


Dr. Amy Konvalin

Dr. Amy Konvalin

Struggling with pain and dysfunction can impact every part of our lives — it drains our energy, distracts us from our goals, and keeps us from the people and activities we love. As an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Dr. Amy Konvalin understands how frustrating those limitations can be — and she knows how to help get you back to the life you want to live! Beginning with a focused evaluation, Dr. Amy works to determine the root causes of your pain, as well as understanding how it affects the way you move through your world. Dysfunctional patterns of movement often grow worse with time and cause further damage if left untreated — so it’s important to address these issues as soon as possible. Dr. Amy knows there is no one-size-fits-all plan for success, and she partners with patients to identify their unique treatment goals and personal values. Using these goals as a guide, Amy uses her doctorate training in manual (hands-on) therapy and exercise prescription to treat patients with a wide variety of medical challenges and histories throughout the Maple Valley, Black Diamond and Covington areas. Dr. Amy is also a wife to a Boeing superstar/former C-130 navigator. While they lived in Germany, Dr. Amy was able to volunteer with the US Army to treat military personnel and civilians on base. She has two beautiful teenage ballerinas who keep her on her toes and educate her on all things ballet! Bailey, the princess pup, is her running partner and her napping partner. In the spare moments in between, Amy enjoys reading, yoga, wine with friends, Pilates, and walking on the beach.
Dr. Amy Konvalin

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