How Can I Relieve Neck Pain in the Morning? (Home Physical Therapy)

How Can I Relieve Neck Pain in the Morning? (Home Physical Therapy)

We get this question a lot from our clients who receive home physical therapy in Manhattan, Brooklyn, inside and outside of NYC. 

Here's some simple, proven, and effective tips to ease Neck Pain first thing in the morning...

Step 1:  Check Your Mattress - How old is your mattress?  A proper mattress should be firm and not too soft. A firm mattress is helpful in supporting your entire spine (from your neck all the way down to your lower back).

Step 2: Check Your Pillow - How old is your pillow?   A proper pillow should be able to keep the curvature of your neck... in other words, it should "fill in" and support the curve of your neck, regardless if you are sleeping on your left side, sleeping on your right side, or if you are sleeping flat on your back.  Your pillow should not be so soft that it flattens out overnight while you are trying to sleep.

Step 3: Try a Warm or Hot Shower - A warm or hot shower will loosen up a stiff neck and ease neck pain. The warmth is soothing which can relax tight or tense neck muscles.  Also, a warm shower can increase blood flow circulation to your neck area.  And, you will have noticed this in the past if you've had gotten out of a hot shower, looked in the mirror, and saw that your shoulders, arms, or neck area was a little red.  That kind of redness is proof that those areas experienced an increase in blood flow, because the redness is additional circulation coming to the surface of your skin. While in the warm shower, and if you are able, try to gently move your head in circles, both left and right movements.  

Step 4: Avoid Ice/Cold Therapy for Neck Pain - The neck (cervical spine) is a sensitive area.  Most people better and experience more relief and get back more flexibility and range of motion in their neck after using a hot pad or heat therapy, compared to using an ice pack or cold therapy on their neck.  If you click this link here, you can read more about when to use ice versus when to use heat. 

Next, if these tips do not work or do not provide you with any neck pain relief, then it might be time to seek a Doctor of Physical Therapy who is a Neck Specialist.  

Now, if you didn't know, an expert Doctor of Physical Therapy can provide you with a proper diagnosis and hands-on manual therapy treatment at the very first visit.  This is what we offer to busy New Yorkers who might be dealing with annoying neck pain that could be disturbing their sleep, getting in the way of working, or preventing them from doing the things they love... such as time with children or grandchildren, exercising, or even just reading.

Furthermore, what we have found to be effective is working with a Movement Expert who can:

1.) Find the Root-Cause of Your Neck Pain, and then...
2.) Fix the Root-Cause So That it Does Not Return.

If your Doctor of Physical Therapy does not identify where your neck pain is coming from, then they may be "chasing symptoms" or they may be treating the incorrect area.  

When we are able to identify and find the root-cause of someone's neck pain during their first home visit, they should expect to feel at least 10-15% pain relief, if not more.  This is much more possible if you have had neck pain for 3 weeks or 3 months.  However, if you have been dealing with neck pain for 3 years, then may take 2-3 home visits to start feeling positive progress and neck pain relief, because having pain longer than 3 months is considered "chronic pain."  And, it may a few follow up visits to feel some relief that you deserve.

If any of this sounds like you or sounds like what you are dealing with, then feel free to speak with our 24/7 receptionist by calling (646)-781-8884. 

Our receptionist will collect some of your information, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy will personally call you back (typically the very same day, including weekends).

We wish you nothing but the best in getting neck pain relief and investing in your health and wellness.

Learn What Successful Treatment Looks Like

Call 24/7: (646)-781-8884