Neck strain and tension are fairly common due to poor posture while reading tablets, smartphones, and working at a computer for hours. This type of neck pain can be difficult to deal with since it stems from a repetitive activity. In addition to treating your neck, you also need to change your habits so your neck can heal and the pain stays away. Massage therapy can often help with neck pain. Here's a look at getting massage treatments to help relieve tension and pain in your neck.

Seek Help From A Trained Massage Therapist

See a massage therapist for your treatment rather than letting a loved one give you a neck massage at home. Massaging the wrong areas could make your neck pain worse. The goal of a massage is to relax the muscles in your neck to release tension, but that might not happen if your neck is massaged directly or too strongly.

The Massage May Focus On Your Back

Your massage may start on your back in an effort to relax those areas first. Then, the therapist may work on your shoulders. With your back relaxed, your shoulders can relax, and when that happens, tension may melt out of your neck. Once relaxation begins, the therapist may advance to massaging your neck and feel for a response. If your neck muscles tense back up, the massage may return to your back to encourage relaxation again. Relaxing the muscles in your back and neck helps relieve neck pain and improve blood flow so painful areas can heal.

Regular Massages Decrease Tension

A one-time massage can be beneficial, but when you're battling neck pain that makes it difficult to do your job, then you may need a series of frequent massages. Each session builds on the previous one to encourage relaxation that lasts long after the treatment ends. You may need massage treatments a few times a week for a few weeks in a row to control your pain and eventually eliminate it.

Massage treatments may help your pain and help you heal, but you also need to make adjustments in your life to support your massage therapy sessions. For instance, be sure to sit at your computer desk in an ergonomic fashion so your head isn't tilted forward or back. Hold your tablet or phone directly in front of your face rather than hunch over it. Also, improve your posture so your spine and neck are well supported by your back. Doing these steps along with massage treatments could do wonders for your aching neck. 

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