When you wake up in the morning and stretch lazily, you experience  sudden neck pain – you have a “stiff neck” in Chinese medicine, or an “acute cervical sprain” in Western medicine. Generally, this condition occurs when the neck is excessively twisted during sleep, causing imbalanced tension in the muscles on both sides of the neck. Over time, the muscles near the neck contract protectively to prevent further injury, resulting in a “stiff neck”.

Many people with this condition often experience recent fatigue from work, high levels of stress, a lack of exercise, and irregular sleeping patterns. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), the liver governs the tendons and muscles. This means that the muscles and their surrounding fascia are nourished by the liver’s blood. If the body experiences excessive depletion, leading to insufficient liver blood, the fascia will lack nourishment and become tight and stiff. Long hours of computer work and improper sleeping postures can easily trigger a “stiff neck.”

Acupuncture points are on the hand back rather than on the neck

“Stiff neck” can be relieved through acupressure massage or acupuncture. When experiencing neck pain due to “stiff neck,” you can apply pressure to specific acupoints on the hand to ease the tension in the neck fascia, for which distal acupoints and dynamic Qi therapy are usually used. Distal acupoints refer to acupoints for treatment that are not located on the neck but on the back of the hand.

Commonly used acupoints for treating “Stiff neck“

• Luozhen: Located between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones on the back of the hand, about 1 cm from the metacarpophalangeal joint.

• Zhongzhu: Located between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones on the back of the hand, in the depression behind the metacarpophalangeal joint.

When experiencing “Stiff neck”, you can first apply pressure to the acupoints on the same side as the affected neck. For example, if the right side of the neck is affected, pressure on the corresponding acupoints on the right hand. Press and hold until you feel a sore sensation. While slowly rotating your neck left and right, you will notice the pain gradually subsiding during the rotation. This treatment is called dynamic Qi therapy in TCM.

Generally, each acupoint should be pressed for about 15-30 seconds before moving on to the next one. After applying pressure on the acupoints on one side, repeat the process to the opposite side. For more severe cases of “Stiff neck”, combining acupuncture can achieve better results.

Tips for daily health care to reduce the occurrence of “Stiff neck“

• When using a computer, set a timer on your phone to remind you to take short breaks and move your shoulders and neck.

• Plan your work schedule well, avoiding accumulating tasks until the last minute, to prevent excessive fatigue and reduce psychological pressure.

• In cold weather, use heating appropriately while sleeping to avoid excessively low temperatures that could affect local blood circulation in the neck.

• Engage in regular physical activity 2-3 times a week, as exercise helps relax the fascia and other soft tissues. TCM #acupuncture #acupuncturedubai #herbalmedicine