Everyone wakes up feeling some pain in their joints or muscles from time to time. A hard workout the day before. Looking down for hours at your laptop screen or cellphone. These are just a few reasons you might feel a bit stiff and achy. But, if you find yourself consistently waking up with a stiff and achy neck, it may be time to try physical therapy.

Why is my neck stiff and achy when I wake up?

Neck tissue can become irritated throughout the day. By the evening, when your mind is tired, you might not even notice it. When you fall asleep and remain mostly immobile overnight, that allows the inflammation to grow and irritate the neck even more. 

The result is that when you wake up in the morning, your neck is stiff and achy. After you start moving around, the inflammation is likely to get better. Additionally, your neck may be painful due to other issues. For instance, sleeping all night with your head too high or too low can also lead to pain and stiffness in your neck. 

Other issues that can cause a stiff and achy neck

If your doctor has diagnosed you with a medical condition that impacts your neck joints and tissue, physical therapy can probably help. Here are some of the most common neck ailments that our physical therapists can help treat:

• Cervical tendinitis
• Neck osteoarthritis
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Lupus
• Bursitis
• Whiplash

All these neck conditions can cause aching, stiffness and joint pain. Our physical therapists will work with you to help you try to achieve a greater range of motion in your neck. They can also help to reduce pain so you can enjoy a better quality of life.

Tips for people with stiff and achy necks

Your physical therapy regimen will largely depend on your specific symptoms or diagnosis. However, there are a lot of common recommendations that work hand in hand with physical therapy. Here are some tips that your physical therapist will likely share with you on your journey to wellness:

• Get good sleep — Getting enough sleep at night creates a circular benefit with physical therapy exercises. When you get enough sleep, it increases your ability to effectively exercise. When you exercise regularly, it helps you to get better sleep. Better sleep habits and physical exercise are a powerful “one-two punch” for keeping aches and stiffness away.
• Improve your posture — If your work requires you to sit at a desk for long hours, or if you stay sedentary for long periods every day, try to get up every half hour for some light stretches. Move around to keep your circulation going, which helps to relieve joint pain. Proper posture when sitting or standing can help your neck to function properly. 
• Look at your diet — Be sure to consume lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. These healthy foods have more antioxidants and vitamins, which fight off the inflammation that can lead to pain. A better diet can also help you to get better sleep and help your body receive more benefit from exercise.

Find physical therapy for a stiff and achy neck at Continuum Wellness

Ready to find out how physical therapy can benefit your stiff, achy neck? Our team at Continuum Wellness is primed to show you how we can help you. We offer free screenings intended to pinpoint the specific issue that’s causing your neck problems. Our team can then create a personalized therapy plan for you that’s designed to treat your neck symptoms.

Can’t leave home to get help with your neck issue? No problem! Continuum Wellness offers virtual care and at-home therapy services. These options are specifically intended to help patients get the therapy they need right from their own home. Even better, you can use any of our therapy services without first getting a referral from your doctor. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can help your neck or to schedule an initial appointment.