Neck pain is a common ailment and perhaps strikes worst in the morning. This is especially a common problem for businesspeople who often struggle with posture in the office and stress that may affect sleep. Here are 5 ways to avoiding waking up with neck pain.

#1 Change Your Pillow

Use the right pillow for your sleep position. If you sleep on your back, you’ll need a thinner pillow than a side sleeper. Sleeping on the stomach is bad for the neck. If you’re a stomach sleeper, it may be your sleep position more than the type of pillow that is causing the problem.

#2 Adjust Your Workspace

There are many ways to improve posture in the workplace. A desk that adjusts so you can stand part of the day is a great solution. If you have to sit, keep monitors at eye level, get a chair with proper lumbar support, and keep your feet flat on the floor rather than crossing your legs.

#3 Get Some Exercise

Sitting still all day long can lead to a stiff neck. Whether you get up for a few minutes to stretch or take a quick walk down the hall, try to get moving every hour or so. Going to the gym a few times a week is also a good idea, but you can’t sit for hours at a time and expect to wake up feeling good.

#4 Focus on Posture

Craning your neck to check your phone 50 times per day increases the amount of pressure placed on the spine by the head. An average head already weighs 10-12 pounds, but at a 60-degree angle, you’re talking about 60 pounds of spinal pressure. That’s more than enough to affect the soft tissue in the neck.

#5 Upper Cervical Chiropractic Helps Neck Pain

If soft tissue damage has occurred in the neck, it may be due to a misalignment of the C1 and C2. These top two bones of the spine are shaped differently in order to provide the head with maximum range of motion. However, a misalignment can lead to pain and other symptoms. Contact an upper cervical chiropractor near you to learn if a gentle adjustment may be able to help you wake up pain-free.

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