Relief for stiff neck and shoulders

[phoeboos]

Long hours at work, in front of the computer always causes me to have stiff neck and aching shoulders... what are some methods you ladies try to relief or prevent this?

Throw me some suggestions pls!

[Gwynnie]

You have my sympathies - I'm a fellow sufferer of stiffness and aches as well. Sometimes it gets so bad that I get pounding headaches.

First of all, try to remember to take regular breaks every hour. Some of my colleagues splurge on an ergonomic keyboard and their own LCD monitor because my company only issues laptops to employees, which makes us all slouch towards the tiny screen.

Try these exercises for quick relief. Avoid Succumbing to "Computer Hunch" Posture with These Easy Stretches

During your evening shower, soak your loofah using water that's as hot as you can bear and use it as a hot compress against your shoulders and back of the neck. It's an instant relief!

When it gets too achy to bear, haul yourself to get a massage. I find that Chinese tuina and Thai massages work the best for achy muscles, but you've gotta put up with some pain while they try to knead those knots out of you. The foot reflexology shops in Chinatown (which also do shoulder massages) only charge around $25 to $30 per hour, which are really good value for money. If ambience is important to you, Kenko is quite all right. But they're not as good as those in Chinatown, I feel. If you really wanna spoil yourself in a spa-like environment, you can treat yourself to a 90 minute session at Qi Mantra.

Hope this helps!

[phoeboos]

Wow... thanks Gwynnie for the very detailed tips! I've tried out Chinese massage and I really like that.. but the funny thing is, immediately after the massage session, I can feel the relief.. but the next day it feels very sore.. almost like a bruised kind of sore... have you experienced that before? :S

So how about massage equipment? Has any one bought those like massage chairs etc and do you reckon those work? Like those from OTO.. they have one that's like a car seat.. and then the massage chair etc..

[Gwynnie]

Hi phoeboos,

Yes, I get the bruising kind of soreness too, which takes a few days to go off. It's normal. But looking at the overall balance, I still think the massages are worth it.

I have the handheld massager and the portable chair massager (the one that you can just put on top of your chair/couch) from OTO. They do relief the aches and stiffness a bit, but at times when it's really bad (e.g. before the time of the month), the relief is only for a few minutes - so I'll still need to head for tuina + acupuncture. In my experience, a good therapist really makes the difference but maybe it's because I've not splurged on a good massage chair.

Another thing about the portable chair massager that I have is that it doesn't reach high enough to knead the back of the neck, so its efficacy is somewhat limited for me.

[seraphria]

my doc taught me some simple neck exercise.

look left, center, look right
look up, center, look down

repeat 10 times once a day to receive neck tension

[Demure09]

How about seeing a chiropractor? Because the last time when i had a stiff neck and shoulder, i went to this chiro and he did some twisting gently and that really helps alot. I feel so much lighter after that.

[Princess_G]

Hi phoeboos,

Yes, I get the bruising kind of soreness too, which takes a few days to go off. It's normal. But looking at the overall balance, I still think the massages are worth it.

I have the handheld massager and the portable chair massager (the one that you can just put on top of your chair/couch) from OTO. They do relief the aches and stiffness a bit, but at times when it's really bad (e.g. before the time of the month), the relief is only for a few minutes - so I'll still need to head for tuina + acupuncture. In my experience, a good therapist really makes the difference but maybe it's because I've not splurged on a good massage chair.

Another thing about the portable chair massager that I have is that it doesn't reach high enough to knead the back of the neck, so its efficacy is somewhat limited for me.

I'm using the OTO massage chair at home and I think it really helps after a long day at work and when you don't have the time to go for a massage.. especially when you have one that does the entire head to toe massage... really relaxes your tired body.

[notoveryet]

Hi phoeboos,

Yes, I get the bruising kind of soreness too, which takes a few days to go off. It's normal. But looking at the overall balance, I still think the massages are worth it.

I have the handheld massager and the portable chair massager (the one that you can just put on top of your chair/couch) from OTO. They do relief the aches and stiffness a bit, but at times when it's really bad (e.g. before the time of the month), the relief is only for a few minutes - so I'll still need to head for tuina + acupuncture. In my experience, a good therapist really makes the difference but maybe it's because I've not splurged on a good massage chair.

Another thing about the portable chair massager that I have is that it doesn't reach high enough to knead the back of the neck, so its efficacy is somewhat limited for me.

Hi, I am also suffering from painful shoulder aches due to prolong use of laptop.
Is there any particular tuina or massages you can recommend from Chinatown? I am actively looking for one, but I do not know which one to go?

[Linenblend]

I also used to get frequent stiff neck and shoulder. My shoulder feels like 2 pieces of ROCK!

To me, massage chair or any of those DIY massager is of no use as everyone's body structure is different. The area and level of pain also varies.

I go to a chiropractor for regular maintenance and sometimes massage. Really feels good!!

If you would like to have a long term solution to your stiff neck and shoulder, i think this helps! )

[ecoli]

I also used to get frequent stiff neck and shoulder. My shoulder feels like 2 pieces of ROCK!

To me, massage chair or any of those DIY massager is of no use as everyone's body structure is different. The area and level of pain also varies.

I go to a chiropractor for regular maintenance and sometimes massage. Really feels good!!

If you would like to have a long term solution to your stiff neck and shoulder, i think this helps! )

Which chiropractor do u go to? Care to recommend? What are the charges like? I work shift, so after 3-4 days of continous working, my neck and shoulder can be as hard as rock!

[Linenblend]

Which chiropractor do u go to? Care to recommend? What are the charges like? I work shift, so after 3-4 days of continous working, my neck and shoulder can be as hard as rock!

I can totally understand what you mean. I go to the chiropractor at Tampines since I stay in the east. They are located at the CPF Tampines Building and there is also Healing Touch Massage there. The doctors are sincere and honest and staff are friendly.

Their charges are pretty reasonable compared to some other chiropractors. Give them a call to find out.

their website is chirosolutionsgroup.com

[ecoli]

I can totally understand what you mean. I go to the chiropractor at Tampines since I stay in the east. They are located at the CPF Tampines Building and there is also Healing Touch Massage there. The doctors are sincere and honest and staff are friendly.

Their charges are pretty reasonable compared to some other chiropractors. Give them a call to find out.

their website is chirosolutionsgroup.com

Thanks dear!