Pls advise what I can do to reduce shoulder and neck stiffness when I am too stressed with my work?

Answer 1

if you have life bar at home you can just hang on it for a few sec it helps loosen stiffness on shoulder and neck.

Answer 2

First, make sure that your position at your work station is correct. Good posture will go a long way in helping alleviate stress. Good lumbar support for the lower back, knees raised higher than pelvis (perhaps a foot rest to achieve this), keyboard at proper height (lower than standard desk or table), etc.

Second, take breaks. This doesn't mean you have to hang out at the office water cooler and discuss the latest episode of Survivor nor does it mean that you have to saunter down to the IT department and flirt with that cute new programmer. It means getting up out of your working position and moving around a little at least once per hour.

Third, even at your work station you can do things to loosen tense muscles and relieve some stress. You can hang your hands down beside you and wiggle your fingers and shake your wrists around like well done spaghetti. You can rotate your shoulders back to front and then front to back. You can raise your shoulders to your ears and then drop them gently back to resting position. Do this several times in a row, should take only a couple of minuutes, every half hour or so and you will find a big difference.

If anyone should complain about the time taken to perform these stress relieving exercises, just tell them that with improved muscular comfort will come improved productivity and lower incidence of sick leave.

Answer 3

I've always heard it helps to do some light exercises of the neck, like moving your head from side to side, and take some deep breaths while you are doing this. Also, you might take short breaks from your work now & then (if you are allowed to on your job) so you can get up from your desk & move around, maybe walk to the water fountain, take a restroom break, so as to break up long work periods. Also make sure your chair is at the right height for your keyboard, and supports your back in the proper position. You should have an Ergonomics person at your work site who can check this for you and make recommendations to help solve this problem for you.

Answer 4

There are 3 things you can do right at your desk that my physical thereapy person taught me. Sitting staight up in your chair chin down take your arms and try to touch your elbows together behind your back(they wont touch) do this for 20 reps. Same position do a shoulder shrug that brings your shoulders as far up to your ears as possible and the last is to tilt your head to one side or the other and with the hand that is on the same side as the tilt put your hand on top of you head and try to pull your head further down onto your shoulder(not excessive force just some)and hold for count of 10. These work for me great as I can do them several times a day and I generally sit at my desk all day.

Answer 5

smoke marijuana - it's the best thing for reducing stress and pain from muscle strain

Sadly it's still illegal for political reasons, but in many places those laws are ignored (the police don't enforce it) and in most places the legal penalties are very light, so it's worth the risk if you want to relieve your pain.

Of course the use of marijuana is becoming more acceptable every day, and will probably be legal someday.

Use it, see how great it works to relieve your pain, then show some respect and gratitude to those who have done so much towards legalizing it and help the campaign to legalize it yourself.

Answer 6

I recommend calcium-magnesium-zinc tablets 3 times a day with meals for muscle cramps and spasms (clear it with your doctor first if you have any kind of serious medical problems). Valerian is an herbal muscle relaxer but may cause some drowsiness, Swansonvitamins,com has several herbal nervine products and info about them on their web site. Also take a good multivitamin-multi mineral daily. Deep breathing and meditation exercises are very good for reducing stress.

Answer 7

More frequent breaks to walk around and stretch. Use a better chair. Raise your keyboard. Get a better monitor and position it more efectively. Have an ergonomics specialist assess your current conditions and make recomendations. Work-out in the mornings to strengthen and stretch your neck and shoulder muscles. Do frequent head "rolls". I battle it too, and these things work to a degree... I hope something in there was new to you and works out!

Answer 8

You can either quit your job and find another which is not putting you through so much stress. If that's not an option for you then I HIGHLY suggest for you to get a massage with a licensed massage therapist. 30 minutes will do wonders!!!

Answer 9

You have to reduce the stress.
Check out ( http://www.reducingstress.net )
It is a really good stress site.
There are lots of articles on all stress related topics.
I think you will find all your stress related answers there.

Answer 10

Go and get a deep tissue massage...it helps out and it is TOTALLY relaxing