Why Does My Neck Hurt?
Believe it or not, the average weight of the human head is a full 11 pounds.
That may not seem like a lot, but imagine you had to actually hold that weight, the equivalent of a bowling ball, in your hands and up above your shoulders all day every day for the rest of your life.
That’s exactly the job your neck has to do.
What’s more, the bones and muscles of your neck need to work together in perfect harmony for you to move your head around and to do it without neck pain.
This is what really has you Googling “why does my neck hurt.”
It’s no surprise then that you may experience discomfort and maybe even pain as a result of postural changes, injuries, and arthritis in and around your neck.
If you’ve ever had a stiff neck or couldn’t turn your head for a day or two, you know how distracting and limiting that pain can be.
However, what many of us don’t realize is that our body may be trying to protect a joint that isn’t moving correctly.
Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints.
If an adhesion forms on those joints or they become “stuck,” your body will try to compensate, and that can lead to other challenges like muscle spasms if not addressed quickly.
In short, you can stop wondering “why does my neck hurt.” Neck pain or a stiff neck is your body’s way of saying “pay attention”!
And even if that stiffness comes and goes, it’s a smart idea to have us evaluate what’s going on.
Taking care of small challenges before they become big issues is the definition of being proactive with your health.
Neck pain and stiffness
The Cervical Spine Before, During and After Manipulation. The Spine Journal. 2018.
