Health Benefits of Neck Massage
The human head is the heaviest part of the body. The neck and upper back muscles bear the entire weight of the head. Our daily activities can put strain on the neck's tissues, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer, long hours behind the wheel, poor posture, incorrect sleeping positions, and stress all put a strain on the neck muscles. Muscles contract and tighten, causing pain. If left untreated, this pain can creep up the neck and become a full-fledged headache. A neck massage is a very simple procedure that you can perform on yourself. You could also use massage oil to enhance the massage's beneficial effects.
A neck massage can be given while the subject sits in a comfortable chair or lies face down on a massage table. Sit in a comfortable, low-low-back chair to give yourself a neck massage. Grab the trapezius muscle (the sloping muscle that runs from the neck to the shoulders) with the opposite hand's thumb and finger. Massage the muscles gently from the shoulders to the neck. Repeat on the other side. This procedure should be repeated several times. Then, using both hands' fingers, gently massage the neck from the base of the neck to the head. Rep this procedure until you are completely relaxed and pain-free.
