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Most people will
start searching for info when their neck hurts.
Can we appreciate the neck while it is doing
its job correctly?
The
very basic tips are spelled out in the article
on the basic
pelvis care.
It
contains the link to the infamous and highly
effective pelvic tilt, etc. This helps to
prepare the neck for working on it. The neck
needs to be relaxed, and also, the pelvis needs
to be in the proper position in order for the
neck to have a chance.
Why
is pelvis so critical for the neck? If the
pelvis is out, the neck is forward. Since the
head weighs about 7 pounds, 7 pounds off the
"main line" requires a lot of work.
All neck muscles are working extra hard to keep
the head from falling and thus become painful,
tight, and/or tired. The chest muscles and the
between-scapula and back muscles have a
"tug of war" arrangement, where the
front and the back hold the shoulders (and
neck) upright and straight.
Typically,
the front of the chest wins this tug-o-war.
Typically, the chest is too tight, and thus
forces the back between the shoulder blades and
on top of the shoulder to be overstretched. In
this situation, the chest is not complaining,
and the back is full of trigger points, tired,
and complaining loudly. The neck starts
complaining by sending a headache and then
refusing to turn or move at all. This
incapacitates the back muscles too. Often, the
neck muscles squeeze the nerves going to the
hands, so there is tingling in the
fingers.
So,
the only way to keep the neck happy is to make
sure that the pelvis is in the right place.
Then the neck works in its normal position and
all muscles can be balanced. That is why all
oriental massages and rolfing start from abdominal
massage.
For
stretching and immediate help to the neck, read
the dance
therapy and importance
of pelvis.
Neck
is a very sensitive area, and needs special
attention. I found out the hard way, because a
chiropractor yanked my neck. Read my
story...
There
are more muscles in and above the neck that in
the rest of the lower body. Isn't that amazing?
Most neck muscles are rather small, but
powerful. They have to hold the head, which
weighs about 7-10lbs. Some neck muscles are
long and powerful, they start all the way down
in the sacrum (i.e. the tail). So, the entire
back can be pulling on the neck.
The
neck muscles of special importance are those
that pull the shoulders up, e.g. levator
scapulae, and those that are related to
breathing, i.e. scalenes. Why? Because of
stress. Stress gets the shoulders up and it
shortens the breath.
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