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Neck Pain Exercises

Neck pain exercises can be used to help manage back or neck pain associated with spinal conditions such as osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, bulging disc and others. Doctors and physical therapists often prescribe an exercise regimen as part of a course of conservative treatment.

But neck pain exercises aren’t just for people with serious spinal conditions. Most neck pain is a result of everyday muscle strain. We all experience it from time to time, whether we sit at a desk in front of a computer all day or work a more physical job, such as golf course maintenance. For most of us, the same exercises a doctor might suggest to a patient with a more serious spine issue also can help us combat those occasional twinges of discomfort that can make it tough to get through the work day. Even if you think your neck pain symptoms are minor, however, you should never start any exercise program without consulting your doctor first.

Examples of simple neck pain exercises include:

• Using a slow nodding motion, alternate looking straight up at the ceiling and tucking the chin into the chest.
• Slowly bend each ear sideways toward the shoulder.
• Rotate the head left, then right, as if to say "no" to neck pain.
• Use your hand to apply isometric pressure against the temple, the forehead, and back of the head.
• Slowly rotate the shoulder blades backward and downward.

Whether you’re a spinal patient or an otherwise healthy person suffering from occasional neck pain, these neck pain exercises should be performed slowly and never to the point of unbearable pain. You also should remember not to hold your breath while you exercise, because that deprives the muscles of the oxygen they need to perform.

If exercise and other conservative treatment is not enough to alleviate chronic back or neck pain, your doctor might suggest surgery as an option. The award-winning surgeons at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) can help you regain your life with minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that employ gentle, endoscopic techniques. Contact LSI to learn more and to receive a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.