Benefits of a Healthy Neck
We’ve spent this month talking about neck pain and how to address it. The question still remains: why is it beneficial to have a healthy neck? Read on for a few insights to consider.
Better for Your Body
Posture, Pain and Balance
- Improved posture: A strong neck can help you maintain proper posture, which can reduce pain in your back, shoulders, and neck. Good posture also helps you to breathe more easily and improves your overall balance.
- Reduced pain: A healthy neck is less likely to experience pain from overuse, injuries, and conditions like arthritis.
- Increased range of motion: A healthy neck has a greater range of motion. This allows you to turn your head more easily and look up and down without pain.
- Improved balance: The neck muscles help to control the position of your head, which is important for balance. Strong neck muscles can help to prevent falls.
- Better blood flow: The neck is home to many important blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. A healthy neck can help to improve blood flow to the brain. This can improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of stroke.
- Injury prevention: Strong neck muscles can help to absorb shock and protect the spine from injury. This is especially important for athletes and people who are active.
Consistency and Intentionality
What Can You Do?
- Maintaining good posture: When you are sitting or standing, make sure your ears are over your shoulders and your shoulders are back.
- Stretching and strengthening exercises: There are several exercises that can help to stretch and strengthen the neck muscles. Contact Dr. Desiree for some suggestions 😊
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Excess weight can put strain on your neck.
- Using proper ergonomics: If you sit at a desk for a long time, make sure your chair and computer are set up properly to support your neck.
- Taking breaks: If you spend a lot of time looking down at your phone or computer, take breaks to stretch your neck and look up. Remember: heads up, phones up!
If you’re in need of a chiropractic assessment to discuss the health of your neck, Dr. Desiree Van Bogart at Desired Health Chiropractic is here to help evaluate your needs and answer your questions!