Many things contribute to neck tension which is why I think so many people struggle with it and the discomfort it can cause!
Stress, forward head posture, rounded shoulders, desk work and a million other things can create or add to an existing problem. Take some time in this upper trap and side neck stretch in a moment when you’re really feeling the tension or warming up for exercise.
Transcript: Hi, It’s Addie Kelzer with Urban Fitness Twin Cities! If you suffer from back, neck or shoulder pain, I’ve got a stretch for you and my lovely trainer, Kaethe, is here to show us exactly how we’re going to get it done. HI! The first thing you’re going to do is grab your wrist on one of the sides so she’s holding her right arm here and you’re going to keep your elbow straight.
That way she has a little bit of leverage as she uses her left arm to pull it across the center of her body in the back. The next step to this is I want you to keep your shoulder down, making sure it’s not coming up by your ear as you do this stretch. Then go ahead and tip your head to the left, away from that shoulder that’s drawing down, and that’s going to create a really nice stretch along the right side of the neck and upper shoulder.
Do you feel that there?
Kaethe: Yes.
Alright, so you can hold that stretch for 30 seconds to up to 2 a minutes if it really feels tight, and make sure to do the other side.
Addie Kelzer is a certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant. She believes that by making fitness and good food practical, her clients will hold the power to positively change their health and the health of those closest to them.
