Neck Pain Support Blog to STOP the Pain in your NECK

Treatment of Neck Pain after a Whiplash Accident: Results of Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:38:00 +0000

Whiplash and neck pain are complex injuries that involve the delicate soft tissues and nerves of the neck. They are often due to a motor vehicle accident or another type of trauma. Even car accidents at low speeds can produce significant neck injury. These patients also suffer with midback pain, lower back pain, arm pain, as well as headaches and vertigo (dizziness). For some people, the symptoms go away quickly, but for others their suffering can last for years.

There are many different treatment options for neck pain. Chiropractors, Medical Doctors, Osteopaths, and Surgeons all treat neck pain in a different fashion. Some neck pain sufferers will try home remedies, physical therapists, personal trainers, and massage therapy. It can be fustrating to decide what type of treatment to persue and what will work for you.

The Medical Journal SPINE recently published the results of a best-evidence review of all neck pain treatments. The Bone and Joint Decade task force reviewed literature of non surgical non-invasive treatments from 1980-2006. 139 papers were considered scientifically valid for review and covered topics such as:

educational videos
mobilization (deep stretching movements)
manual therapy (done by hand)
low level laser therapy
exercises
accupuncture

Also, researchers also looked at costs and safety of treatments. There conclusion was that treatments involving manual therapy and exercise are more effective than alternative strategies for neck pain patients.

So before you make a decision as to how to treat your neck pain consider non drug, non surgical options for recovering from your whiplash.

Source: SPINE (Hurwitz, et al. Spine 2008;33:S123-52)

Large Handbags- A Pain in the Neck

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:18:00 +0000

Today's Blog comes courtesty of another health blog: Healthy LifeStyle by Borzack.

One of the biggest fashion trends this season is to be seen toting a huge handbag. Jumbo sized bags are the rage and all leading designers have come up with exquisite pieces that may just be a strain on the pocket, and elsewhere.

Hefty bags can cause back pain, shoulder and neck pain, headaches and even arthritis, warns Dr Jane Sadler of Baylor Medical Centre in Garland, Texas.

“I see so many women with neck pain and headaches, and what I usually do is look for their bags and pick them up,” says Sadler. “Their bags generally weigh anywhere from 7 to 10 pounds!”

Such extra large bags mean that women are carrying more items and this can cause an imbalance when walking or standing, another case of poor posture and ergonomics.

“If you can think about how you carry a bag, it’s usually on one side and you kind of pull your neck to one side and lift your shoulder. It’s a very unnatural position,” says Sadler.

The extra weight creates a strain on the neck muscles and the nerves. Being fashionable has its price, but it should only be for the exorbitant purchase of the items rather than a hefty doctor’s bill for pain treatment.

What Is Too Heavy?

Sadler says if you are carrying a mobile phone, makeup and wallet in your bag, it’s already too much. A quick peek into a woman’s bag reveals all of the offending items, including a book, a bottle of water, an organiser, a digital camera, a mobile phone, a laptop and unidentified pieces of paper!

Sadler says if your bag is uncomfortable when you sling it on and you can feel the weight pulling your shoulder, it’s good time to downsize.

“We’re really going to see women with more and more problems later on if we continue the big bag craze.”

Suggested ways of shedding your bag’s weight is to be more organized, downsize your wallet and carry only essentials. That means leaving large makeup kits at home and carrying your mobile phone on a belt clip.

Source: Healthy LifeStyle Blog
Picture Source: Couturier.Tiffany

Visit us online at www.arc4life.com

Neck Pain Support Blog Joins Technorati....

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:32:00 +0000

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End Your Neck Pain and Improve your Health with True Neck Traction

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:26:00 +0000

First, to completely understand neck tractioning you must be aware that there are two types of neck traction. One that simply stretches your neck out and two, one that stretches your neck but also helps restore the proper neck curvature at the same time. The latter is what I call "true" neck traction.

It is the second type, true neck traction, we will want to focus on and use. Why you may ask? Simply stretching the neck can be helpful because you relieve nerve pressure temporarily. However, when stretching is completed gravity takes over - and neck and nerve pressure returns and often times your pain returns.

Neck traction that works to restore the natural curve of the spine ( your body's optimal alignment ) keeps pressure off the nerves continually allowing one to be pain free and function 100%.

You see, health is defined as 100% function of your nervous system. It is this system-your brain, spinal cord and all the nerves that gives us the ability to work, eat, sleep, play; everything ! When we put unwanted pressure or stress on any of the nerves it will inhibit our ability to function and therefore our health.

Pain or some other symptom like headaches, tingling in the arms or hands, muscle weakness or soreness are simply warning signs saying that something is wrong.

Studies have shown we should have 40-60 degrees neck spine curvature for our spinal cord and neck nerves to function best. By just stretching our neck vertically we may take some pressure off some nerves but we aren't going to help re align the neck to that optimum curve or alignment.

By doing neck traction where we add in the elements of putting the curvature in the neck while stretching it we can restore neck alignment therefore improving our overall health and keeping us pain free.

True neck traction can be acheived with traction units such as the Posture Pump 1000 or the Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction Unit.

Visit us on the web at Arc4life.com

Help, I woke up with a Stiff neck ! How do I get rid of it?

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:45:00 +0000

Help me i have a bad stiff neck ! how do i get rid of it???? please help!!!!
Imagine, you wake up one morning, and you have stiffness in your neck and you cannot move your head.

You probably slept uncomfortably in an awkward position. A stiff neck often results when you have slept incorrectly, thereby straining the muscles of the neck. It can also result after being on the telephone for too long, or for driving long periods. You want to first of all deal with this stiff neck. Take a warm/hot shower and slowly flex your head forward and backward as far as you can without pain. Also laterally bend and turn your head side to side. Use a natural pain relieving gel like Biofreeze. To properly use this read this Neck Pain Support Blog Post on how to decrease muscle spasm using biofreeze. Also, get used to doing some sort of neck stretches every morning to prevent a stiff neck in the first place. Read our Neck Pain Support Blog for Fast and Easy Stretches for the Cervical Spine. Finally, you need to have a good cervical support neck pillow while you sleep: Try the Cervical Traction neck pillow. It is the best neck pillow for sleeping and preventing a stiff neck. This neck pillow will keep your neck in the proper position while sleeping.

Visit us at Arc4life.com for informative articles on neck pain as well as neck pain relief products.

True Neck Traction - The Right Kind Of Neck Traction For Long Term Pain Relief

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:33:00 +0000

Many people get traction at a therapist’s office or do home traction. One kind of traction is where the neck basically only gets stretched. The other is where you get stretched but also it helps restore the neck curvature.

In the neck there should be a 40-60 degree C curvature. This is the best position for the neck spine because it leaves the spinal cord relaxed and all of the nerves can travel out of the back of the spine with no pressure or interference.

True neck traction is traction where the goal is to restore the cervical curvature because this can be a long term fix for nerve pressure and neck problems like pain and muscle tension.

Traction where the head is simply stretched is a short term fix. Often the most common type is “overhead traction” or “over the door traction”. This is where some sort of harness is strapped onto your neck or head and there is a weight on the other end of the harness (usually over a door) creating the pull. Sometimes it’s done with small weights, or a water bag. This is similar to having someone gently pull upward on your head. It gives temporary relief.

By using true neck traction you can get relief that will last much longer. It has been said that any loss of the normal neck curvature is classified as a misalignment or subluxation of the spine. Any misalignment or subluxation puts pressure on nerves. Even a tiny misalignment can take away that nerve or those nerves’ ability to send the brains message to that particular part of the body.

This is why neck traction is often used by only people in pain and discomfort a lot of the time, but also used by people who show no symptoms of neck pain or soreness and the like.

A simple lateral x-ray of someone’s neck can show us what their neck curvature looks like.
Otherwise looking at one’s posture from the side can tell us a lot. The middle of the ear should approximately line up with the middle of the shoulder. A vertical line should be able to be drawn between these two points.

If it doesn’t line up then it’s another case of the dreaded “forward head posture”. If that head is protruded out forward there is a great chance there’s loss of some of the adequate neck curvature and alignment.

One day of working on the computer or reading with your head down most likely won’t change your neck curvature but prolonged poor posture or a whiplash type injury can.

Take the football quarterback example. The quarterback gets sacked, hit from behind as he was about to throw. His back arches back, his neck arches back, as he is hit at the torso level. Then his body is flung forward as the momentum and force of the tackler moves in that direction. His neck whips back, forward, and then back again as he hits the ground (“whiplash”). So the quarterback’s spine was completely contorted, but he gets up, brushes himself of, and his spine shifts back into place.

The body is pretty amazing! A lot of the time it will shift right back into alignment. Sometimes, however, the spine doesn’t go back into place and we now have a misalignment. This can be of solely one vertebra (back bone) or most often, a group of the segments or vertebrae of the spine.

With loss of the neck curve (cervical lordosis) it’s often a group of segments that are misaligned. Again, this can happen through some kind of trauma, like taking a hard tackle to getting rear ended in your car. And it doesn’t always take much force at all actually. The loss of neck curvature can also be due to poor postural habits over time. Things like working on a computer multiple hours a day without a break; or continuous reading with your head down; or long drives that are stressful, to give a few examples.

This is why neck traction is so often used now. It’s the best way to restore the neck alignment to what it should be. Correcting the curvature takes pressure of the nerves, reduces the inflammation, and relaxes the muscles. Neck traction not only helps people that have had trauma to the neck and clearly have sever neck pain, but it also helps prevent unwanted neck problems from arising.

Dr Matt Bellinger is a Chiropractor in Connecticut. He has written many articles on how to easily and naturaly relieve pain, and has helped hundred of patients in his clinic end their neck and back pain. He recommends specific pain relief and posture improving products at http://www.arc4life.com. Read more articles related to neck pain and cervical neck traction here. He recommends the Pronex Cervical Traction Unit for his patients home traction use. This neck traction device creates an even distraction in the anterior and posterior cervical discs while supporting the cervical curve. It is a lightweight, simple to use, pneumatic device that has revoultionized the at-home cervical traction unit.

Source: Ezine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?True-Neck-Traction---The-Right-Kind-Of-Neck-Traction-For-Long-Term-Pain-Relief&id=758533

Exercising your Abdominals: A Pain in the Neck?

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:01:00 +0000

How often do you go to a gym and watch someone do 100 sit ups with their head behind their neck, yanking it with each attempt to throw themselves upward to a seated position. There is a natural tendency to do this since it helps you lift up and the tendency will increase as your abs get tired. However, the push on your head will strain the muscles in the neck. This type of a motion can cause injury to the neck. There are 2 main reasons why people do sit ups incorrectly. Doing sit ups incorrectly causes you to pull your muscles forward, thus engaging the small muscles of the neck. These muscles in turn get fatigued and therefore people often pull on their neck while doing ab exercises. Another reason people hurt their neck is that do not have good exercise technique. Here are three ways to make sure you are not injuring your neck while doing theses import abdominal exercises which are very important for overall health.

Place your fingers behind your ears, instead of clasping your hands behind your head. This will allow you to assist slightly when your neck fatigues, but prevent you from actually pulling on your head.
Avoid jutting your head forward by keeping it in neutral position as you lift your head, neck and shoulders in unison. This will prevent excessive flexion of the cervical spine and reduce positional muscle imbalances.
Place your tongue flat on the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth during abdominal movements performed while lying on your back. This practice has been taught to thousands of exercise professionals by certified neuromuscular therapist and industry leader Paul Chek. It is purported to engage the strap muscles in the front of the neck to assist in the movement while preventing biomechanical stress on the cervical spine.
By following these simple tips during your abdominal training you'll keep your neck and upper spine healthy and be able to focus more on hitting those stomach muscles intensely. Then you can have a 6-pack with no neck pain !

Visit us at Arc4life.Read more about: Stretching and Strengthing Exercises for the Neck

Simple Exercises to Combat Neck Pain and Tension in the Shoulders

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:08:00 +0000

Many people have desk jobs where they are hunched over their desk, with their shoulders hunched up looking over paperwork. Often they come home with neck pain and suffer daily. They have muscle spasms in their neck, upper back and shoulders.
A couple of months ago, Denmark's National Research Centre for the Working Environment, released the results of their study into what really helps people with tense shoulders.
The researchers asked volunteers to exercise (cycling), or do exercises aimed at the trapezius muscles.
Others were told not to change their behaviour.
The strength exercises below are what worked. Do them three times per week - the routine takes under five minutes - and like the volunteers in the study, your neck pain should be reduced by an enormous 80%.

When you are doing these exercises, you should keep your knees slightly bent throughout the movements. You should use dumbbells of 2-5 lbs (if you don't have dumbells use a bottle of water or a can of vegetables). You should repeat until your muscles are exhausted which should happen at some point between 8-12 repetitions. When the weight becomes easy, move onto a heavier one.
Here is the exercise routine:
● Shrug. Hold your arms at the sides, holding weights and palms facing in. Keeping your arms straight, pull shoulders up to your ears, pause for a second and lower.
● Bend forward so your chest faces the floor, arms hanging down, palms facing inwards to each other holding weights. With elbows slightly bent, squeeze shoulder blades and raise arms to your sides, parallel to the floor. Hold in this position, pause and then lower.
● Stand with your palms in front of thighs and facing legs. Bend your elbows to the sides and pull weights up to about collarbone level. Pause, then lower.

Visit Arc4life to learn stretching and strengthening neck exercises

The Right Neck Pillow after a Car Accident....

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:47:00 +0000

Arc4life receives a lot of questions from our customers everyday. Our most popular question: Which neck pillow do you recommend for me? Many of our customers that order one of our neck pillows are in chronic pain, usually from one or more motor vehicle accidents. A motor vehicle accident can cause pain in the neck for long term, especially if it not treated properly right away.

In this month of June, we received two emails about our cervical traction neck pillow that we would like to share with you today. You can see how even after multiple car accidents you can still find the right pillow.

"I want to shout out loud for the joyful pain-free mornings I'm having since ordering the cervical traction pillow! Injured in a near fatal car accident over 20 years ago...the pain in my neck had increasingly worsened. Each day I'd awake with the sensation that the weight of something like a bowling ball was on my head pushing my neck down between my shoulder blades. I hurt nearly round the clock. I've tried every neck pillow known to man. I honestly thought there was just nothing out there to provide relief. The day I found your blog, I'd awakened that morning and literally prayed, God, if there is a pillow out there to help me...WHERE IS IT???!!!! Then, that very afternoon...I found IT! I had relief from the first moment I laid down on it, and every morning since. If you're reading this note and can't decide whether or not to spend the money for a pillow...let me admonish you--GET IT!! It is going to shock and amaze you as it makes your neck pain a distant memory. No joke. I am so very glad I found this.."- M.K, 06/08/2008

"I Received my Cervial Traction Neck Pillow 4 days after ordering and I live in Hawaii...superior personal customer service. I have had 2 cervical surgeries (auto accident) with a titanium cage from C4-7 mounted on C8. With limited head movement there has never been a pillow that protects my head long enough to get a nights sleep. As a last resort, I researched neck pillows and found Arc4life. After ten years of neck, head and shoulder pain, I can honestly say that I am pain free all day and look forward to going to bed and getting up in the morning....one of the first things that was obvious to me is my corrected posture and neck strength.....I never imagined that a pillow could make an entire difference in my life and health.....and for that reason, I am passing your web site to everyone I know along with this testimonial.....it is not only my miracle pillow, but a prevential aid for anyone who has neck discomfort due to accident or aging. By the way, the pillow worked for me the minute I laid my head on it.....A big MAHALO (thank you) for your excellent product and service." - Eileen. K, 06/23/2008
P.S. A very special thank you to NJ, you were so informative, patient , professional and a delight to talk to.

Visit us at Arc4life.com

Multiple Car Accidents can cause major changes in the neck

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:36:00 +0000

Have you been involved in multiple in car accidents? Have you had multiple incidences of whiplash in your neck?
Whiplash Motion that occurs
with an Motor Vehicle Accident

A recent study shows that persistent whiplash motions can cause changes in kinesthestic sense and motor control in the neck. However, the evidence is still inconclusive particularly for differences between whiplash patients and patients with chronic traumatic neck pain.

The aim of this study was to investigate motor control deficits in Whiplash patients and compare them with chronic non-traumatic neck pain and healthy controls in relation to cervical range of motion (ROM), conjunct motion, joint position error and ROM-variability.

This study involved three different groups: 59 patients with persistent whiplash associated disorderss (WAD), 57 patients with chronic non-traumatic neck pain and 57 asymptomatic volunteers.

A 3D motion tracking system (Fastrak) was used to record maximal range of motion in the three cardinal planes of the cervical spine (sagittal, frontal and horizontal), and concurrent motion in the two associated cardinal planes relative to each primary plane were used to express conjunct motion. Joint position error was registered as the difference in head positions before and after cervical rotations.

The results of this study showed decreased conjunct motion found for WAD and chronic neck pain patients compared to asymptomatic subjects. This was most evident during cervical rotation.

Reduced conjunct motion was not explained by current pain or by range of motion in the primary plane. Total conjunct motion during primary rotation was 13.9 degrees (95 % CI; 12.2-15.6) for the WAD group, 17.9 degrees (95 % CI; 16.1-19.6) for the chronic neck pain group and 25.9 degrees (95 % CI; 23.7-28.1) for the asymptomatic group.

As expected, maximal cervical range of motion was significantly reduced among the WAD patients compared to both control groups. No group differences were found in maximal ROM-variability or joint position error.

Conclusions: Altered movement patterns in the cervical spine were found for both pain groups, indicating changes in motor control strategies.

The changes were not related to a history of neck trauma, nor to current pain, but more likely due to long-lasting pain. No group differences were found for kinaesthetic sense.

In other words, whiplash type injuries can cause lasting effects in your neck reducing the normal motion especially the ability to turn your head!

Author: Source: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2008, 9:90, Author: Astrid Woodhouse and Ottar Vasseljen

What your Sleeping Postion Reveals about your Personality and Health

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Getting your 8 hours of sleep is very important- and everyone has their unique positon that they sleep in. Scientists believe the position a person sleeps in reveals something about their personality. Prof Chris Idzikowski, director of the United Kingdom Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service researched and analysed 6 common sleeping positions - and found that each is linked to a particular personality type and that some positions are better for health than others.

Foetus Position- Those who curl up in the foetus position
These people are described as tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax. This Fetal position of sleeping is adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey, and is the most common. It is also common in twice as many women than men.
Log Position- Lying on your side with both arms down by your side
These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd, and who are trusting of strangers. These log sleeping people may be gullible as well.
Yearner Position- People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front
These people are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious and cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.
Soldier Position- Lying on your back with both arms pinned to your sides.
People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don't like a fuss and they have high standards for themselves. The study showed that this positions is likely to lead to snoring while you sleep and caused a bad night of sleep.
Freefall Position- Lying on your front with your hands around the pillow, and your head turned to one side.
These people have a personality towards being gregarious and brash, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath. They dislike criticism, or extreme situations. Professor Idzikowski concluded that the freefall position was good for digestion.
Starfish Position- Lying on your back with both arms up around the pillow.
These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and offer help when needed. They generally don't like to be the centre of attention. The study also showed that the starfish positions can make you snore more and therefore lead to bad night of sleep.

Professor Idzikowski said "Lying down flat means that stomach contents can more readily be worked back up into the mouth, while those who lie on their back may end up snoring and breathing less well during the night. "Both these postures may not necessarily awaken the sleeper but could cause a less refreshing night's sleep."

Finally, The research showed that most people are unlikely to change their sleeping position. Just 5% said they sleep in a different position every night.

Travel Neck Pillow- The Key to sitting at the Airport

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:22:00 +0000

Recently, one of my good friends was coming back from a wedding in Chicago. Well lo and behold, his airplane got delayed because of thunderstorms in the NorthEast. He spent a whopping 10 long hours in the Chicago Airport- 3 of those hours were stuck on the airplane. I cannot even imagine what he went through. He was tired, grumpy and stressed when he finally got back home. It made me think about how to prepare for the far away trip that sometimes never seems to end. Having a comfortable travel neck pillow can make a big difference.

A good travel neck pillow is often shaped in the form of a "U". It is lightweight, supportive, easy to travel with and comfortable around your neck. Often times, a travel neck pillow can be composed of a foam, polyester fiber or gel like material. You don't want your travel pillow to be too soft because it will not give you the proper cervical support. Sitting in an airport is not like lounging around in your family room. You are sometimes awkwardly seated in between two people and you have to the make the most of your surroundings. A good travel pillow will keep your head and neck firmly supported, preventing them from unnecessarily moving side-to-side, bending back, or flopping off whenever you doze off to sleep.

Aside from using your travel pillow for travel, this special u shaped neck pillow can also be used if you have some type of a cosmetic procedure and you need to be seated so that your body can heal. For example: eye lid surgery, face lift, nose surgery, liposuction...you get the idea.

U shaped Memory Travel Neck Pillow .

Dimensions: rounded, diameter 10 Inches
Weight: 2 lbs
Color: Black
Material: 100% viscoelastic memory foam
Benefits of this Travel Pillow: Helps support the head and neck so you can comfortably relax, Special U shape provides comfort for special sleeping or resting needs, Use it it at home or when travelling, memory foam responds to body heat to better conform to the unique shape of your head and neck.
Cost: $35.99
Shipping: $7.50
Shipping Method: UPS Ground
For Ordering information: Click here

There are many other types of Travel neck pillows available- ones created just for headache sufferers that include a cold gel pack, buckwheat ones, fiber ones, etc. Check out Arc4life's Travel Neck Pillows for more selection. Until next post, hope everyone has a comfortable journey next time they are waiting at the airport. - N.J.

Study Shows that Chronic Neck Pain can be Relieved with Strength Training

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:23:00 +0000

Neck pain affects everybody- it causes lost time from work, family and fun. Today I want to share a new study that came out in January 2008 that shows that specific strength training exercises can lead to significant prolonged relief of neck muscle pain, while general fitness training resulted in only a small amount of pain reduction. This study was completed on a group of women.

The Study was completed by two scientists: Gisela Sjøgaard and Lars L. Andersen of the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Copenhagen, Denmark. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial for which they recruited 94 women from 7 workplaces in Copenhagen between September 2005 and March 2006. The women were asked to do specific work related tasks such as typing and desk work. The work consisted of assembly line work and office work, with 79 percent of the participants using a keyboard for more than three-quarters of their working time.

Participants first answered a questionnaire about their pain and then underwent a clinical exam to confirm a diagnosis of trapezius myalgia (muscle pain in the trapezius muscle, which extends along the back of the neck). Participants were assigned to three intervention groups: those who did supervised specific strength training (SST) exercises for the neck and shoulder muscles, those who did high-intensity general fitness training (GFT) on a bicycle ergometer, and a control group that received health counseling but no physical training. Both exercise groups worked out for 20 minutes three times a week for 10 weeks.

The results showed that the GFT group showed a small decrease in neck muscle pain only immediately after exercise, while the SST group showed a marked decrease in pain over a prolonged training period and with a lasting effect after the training ended. "Thus specific strength training locally of the neck and shoulder muscles is the most beneficial treatment in women with chronic neck muscle pain," the researchers state.

The neck pain study also showed that the reduction in pain occurred gradually in the SST group, with trapezius muscle pain gradually decreasing as muscle strength increased. Although the GFT decreased the pain only temporarily, the authors note that even minor decreases in pain may be enough motivation to overcome barriers to exercise, and the resulting increase in fitness may benefit overall long-term health.

The authors state that the marked reduction in pain in the SST group is of "major clinical importance." They concluded: "Based on the present results, supervised high-intensity dynamic strength training of the painful muscle 3 times a week for 20 minutes should be recommended in the treatment of trapezius myalgia."

Reference: "Effect of Two Contrasting Types of Physical Exercise on Chronic Neck Muscle Pain," Lars L. Andersen, Michael Kjær, Karen Søgaard, Lone Hansen, Ann I. Kryger, Gisela Sjøgaard, Arthritis Care & Research, January 2008; 59:1; pp. 84-91.

Review for the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:52:00 +0000

Courtesy of the Great Reviewer on Associated Content: Cervical Traction Neck Pillow Review

Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow is indeed quite a confusing product as it has given me mixed results. I think different people sleep differently and there is quite a deal of mixed reviews regarding this product. I am impressed by the superior design and the material used for its construction. Let us look into the design aspects of this pillow. The special "V" shape in this Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow ensures your head and neck are supported properly. Proper support is vital to induce sleep into the body. We get irregular sleeping hours owing to the various postures we take while sleeping. A proper posture cannot be attained suddenly. We need some external assistance to achieve it. Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow fills this void wonderfully.

As our spine is aligned in the best natural way possible, it gives you enormous comfort and it enhances your circulation. As the spine is properly supported, the air passes through your nasal cavities with enormous ease. No wonder, this Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow gives you reduced snoring. As the muscles get relaxed owing to proper blood flow, the mind too gets relaxed giving you sound sleep. No wonder you feel fresh irrespective of the time, once you lay your head on this Cervical neck pillow.

Initially, I had trouble adjusting my neck to this pillow. I used to turn a lot while sleeping and I found this pillow annoying. In course of time I adjusted to this pillow and to my relief, I have found it to be an amazing product. I never had any chronic pain, but I do believe a correct posture would do overall good to my body. I would suggest you to buy one if you can adjust to this Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow. Initially it may trouble you and in some cases you may not even get sleep.

My sincere advice is, buy one of these pillows and adjust yourself. You may not have any chronic pain or any problem whatsoever. You need to experience it, to accept it. I can never tell you in words, how a sound sleep would feel like. Go ahead, buy one of these Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillows, adapt to it and refresh yourself, day after day. This is a must buy pillow. I am totally satisfied with this product and I would advise each and every one of you to buy one.

Fast And Easy Neck Stretches For Pain Relief

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Summary: Dr Bellinger reveals 3 simple and easy neck stretches anyone can do to relieve neck pain and tension. Also included in this article are some tips on other things in addition to neck stretches one can do, and things to avoid, to prevent neck muscle tightness and pain.

In my office I show patients these simple, effective stretches all the time. They will help stretch your neck muscles keeping your neck loose and mobile. This will relieve your neck pain and muscle tension.
Every segment of your spine has motion but when things get stiff and immobile inflammation builds up putting more pressure on the nerves. Strained or irritated muscles can also pull the neck spine out of its normal alignment putting unwanted pressure on nerves. This, of course causes neck pain and other unwanted problems like headaches and tingling into the arms and hands.

Stretch #1 – Lateral Head Tilts. Start by sitting up straight or standing. Slowly tilt one ear toward that same shoulder. Tilt head until you feel a good stretch. Next, hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Then slowly bring head back to straight. Repeat one more times and then do the same to the opposite side.
Stretch #2 – Head Half Circles. Half circles with your neck and head with your head tilted forward and then with your head tilted back. Similar to if you do full head circles rolling your head around to each side, the half circles are much easier to do and are safer. Start by bending your chin down slightly and roll your chin to one shoulder and then the other. Do 5-10 rolls to each side. Next, extend your head back slightly and roll one ear to that shoulder and then roll head toward other shoulder. Again, do 5-10 rolls to each side.
Stretch #3 – Modified Head Tilt. This is a more advanced version of stretch number one. When performing the lateral head tilt neck stretch, reach up with the arm on the side you are tilting towards and apply mild pressure to the head pulling it or stretching it slightly further. For example, if you are tilting your neck and head to the right, use your right hand to pull your head laterally toward your right shoulder.

With all of these stretches you can easily do them whenever you have a free moment, when you feel your neck stiffening up, or when you first awake in the morning. You can really do these stretches as many times as you like. For more stretching information and pictures of the stretches visit Arc4life’s neck exercises and stretches page.
When doing any stretch if you experience more pain, or irritation, simply stop that stretch. With the neck roll stretch, you can do full neck rolls as well. The reason I like half rolls better is because it is slightly easier on the neck.
Of course, if pain or the problems seem to persist or do not improve see your primary doctor or chiropractor.
Some things to avoid that prevent stiff neck are: sleeping on your stomach, and prolonged strenuous positions, such as working on the computer with poor posture for long periods.
Some additional things to do along with a stretching regimen are: see a chiropractor for neck adjustments or manipulations, try neck traction, and use a good neck pillow while sleeping.

Dr Matt Bellinger is a Chiropractor in Connecticut. He has written many articles on how to easily and naturally relieve pain, and has helped hundreds of patients in his clinic end their neck pain and back pain. He recommends specific pain relief and posture improving products at Arc4life.com

Blog Posts Related to Neck Excercises
-Exercises for Neck Strengthening
-Exercises for Neck Stretching

Shocking “Medication” 85% Of Subjects Feel Less Pain In New Study..And...What If Happiness Was Predetermined ?

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:16:00 +0000

Today Blog comes directly from Arc4life's May 2008 eNewsLetter : The Healthy Back and Neck
What if you could take a "pain medication" that made 85% of subjects in a recent study feel less pain?
And, what if this "pain medication" was 100% natural and had no side effects whatsoever?

But that's not all... What if this "pain medication" was absolutely 100% FREE! That's right - there is an unlimited supply and you can take as much as you want... whenever you want.

Would You Want To Give This "Pain Medication" A Try?
I bet you would. Who in their right mind wouldn't? And in just a minute, you are going to find out all the details. But first, let's talk about...

Happiness...
There are books, CDs, DVDs, live seminars and more that claim to teach people how to be "happier. "
Many spend their entire life pursuing this elusive... and very subjective.. goal.

A growing body of evidence is beginning to suggest that much of our "happiness" may be out of our control.

In one recent study, researchers at the University of Edinburgh propose genes account for about 50% of a person's level of happiness. Study co-author, Timothy Bates believes the underlying factor is genetically determined personality traits like "being sociable, active, stable, hardworking and conscientious. " Interestingly, these happiness traits generally come as a package, so that if you have one you're likely to have them all.

After reviewing survey date from 973 pairs of adult twins, Bates and his Edinburgh colleagues discovered, on average, a pair of identical twins shared more personality traits than a pair of non-identical twins.

When asked how happy they were, identical twins' answers were more alike than non-identical twins, suggesting that both happiness and personality have a strong genetic component. The study, published in Psychological Science, went one step further: it suggests that personality and happiness do not merely coexist, but that, in fact, innate personality traits cause happiness.

Why You Don't Want To Be 44
Another larger study, released in January ahead of its publication in Social Science & Medicine in March, shows that whatever people's individual happiness levels are, everyone seems to fall into a pattern of happiness governed by their age. According to survey data representing 2 million people in more than 70 countries, happiness typically follows a U-shaped curve: among people in their mid-40s and younger, happiness trends downward with age, then climbs back up among older people. (That shift doesn't necessarily hold for the very old with severe health problems.) Throughout the world – people tend to be less happy in their 40s than when they are younger or older; 44 seems to be the "black hole" of unhappiness. But, at least things don't just continue getting worse.

Here's an interesting item: neither very good events, nor very bad events seem to change people's happiness much in the long term. Most people, it seems, revert back to some kind of baseline happiness level within a couple years of even the most devastating events, like the death of a spouse or loss of limbs.

Optimism Is A Good Thing
The research also found most people consider themselves happy most of the time and consider themselves happier than most other people. Optimism is definitely a good thing!

Ok... want to hear about that pain medication now? Here it goes...

In a study published March 5th in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers discovered people given identical pills got greater pain relief from the pills they were told cost $2.50 than from pills supposedly costing 10 cents.

So what? Well it just so happens that in this study, which was funded by MIT, 82 volunteers were asked to rate the intensity of electric shocks administered to their wrists before and after they received a dummy pain pill.

Test subjects did not know they received a placebo. Rather, they were told the pill was a new opioid pain killer similar to codeine but faster-acting. Each participant received a colorful brochure touting the drug as –an exciting new medication– that could provide –up to 8 hours– of pain relief.

In the past, placebos have been shown to alleviate mild to modest pain. Scientists believe the anticipation of pain relief triggers the release of endorphins opiate–like substances produced by the body.

The researchers, in the MIT funded study, wanted to see if price – a signal of quality – could amplify or reduce the placebo effect.

Half of the study participants were told the drug had a regular price of $2.50 a pill. The remaining subjects were told that the new medication had been discounted to 10 cents a pill. No explanation was given for the price cut.

In the findings, 85% of subjects who received regular-priced pills reported feeling less pain after taking the dummy medication, compared with 61% of those who received the supposedly discounted pills, researchers said.
Are you getting this? 85% of people who received and perceived expensive “ dummy medication” experienced relief. And 61% got relief from the cheap “ dummy medication. ” No matter how you look at it – 85% and 61% of people felt less pain simply because they believed they were going to get relief.
The perception of the pain medication being expensive makes it more believable – and, therefore, more effective.

And let's be clear on this: BOTH GROUPS RECEIVED “ DUMMY MEDICATIONS. ” No one actually received pain medication!
For example: Previous studies have shown that price has a powerful impact on the psychology of consumers.

Researchers at CalTech reported in January that expensive wine was experienced as being more pleasant-tasting than identical wine that supposedly cost less.

In another experiment, researchers found that people given inexpensive energy drinks felt more tired and worked out less than those who received identical energy drinks that cost more.

It seems to be clear that the mind plays a HUGE factor in controlling pain and in many other health issues, as well.
The only question left is: How do you control your mind to relieve pain and possibly cure disease?

Read More of May 2008: Arc4life's Healthy Back and Neck eNewsletter
-In this Issue-

Article - Shocking “Medication” 85% Of Subjects Feel Less Pain In New Study...
And...What If Happiness Was Predetermined ?
Inspirational quote-
Health Tip of the month- 16 Interesting, Amusing And Even A Little Scary Health Facts
Testimonial of the month - Neck Stretcher: Pronex Pneumatic Traction Unit for the cervical Spine
Featured product -T.e.n.s Units and how they help muscle spasms

May Sale: $5 off on T.E.N.S Unit + FREE BIOFREEZE 4 oz tube
*** Use Discount Code Arc4Life5 Expires 05/31/2008

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Help with Headaches: Moist Heat

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Today I want to share another tip about tension headaches - how simply using moist heat can give you pain relief

You can use a damp towel heated in a microwave, or a microwavable heat pack, to get your moist heat pack going. It can do wonders to get rid of a tension headache. Moist heat works by increasing blood flow to the back of the head.

If you've got chronic tension headaches, it supplies blood to the back of the head by way of auxiliary blood vessels, as the primary blood vessels are most likely partially pinched off due to muscle spasms in the neck, shoulders and/or upper back.

It also aids in loosening up tight muscles, thereby relieving the pinching of primary the blood vessels somewhat.

I also recommend using moist heat before and after our soft-tissue treatment, which is the cornerstone of our "How to Get Permanent Relief From Chronic Tension Headaches"program. The reason is that moist heat will loosen up the muscles to be treated, making for a more effective session.

And using it afterward helps aid recovery of the muscles.

The great thing about moist heat is you can use it as often as you like. The only negative with using moist heat as an aid for tension headaches, is that it only addresses the symptoms
- it does nothing to get rid of scarred down muscle spasms
- but it does address symptoms holistically.

To get more information about Tension Headaches read: How to Get Permanent Relief From Chronic Tension Headaches. It will give you several easy-to-follow stretches to do that gradually retrain your muscles to adapt to a proper posture.

Why is Slouching so bad?

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:55:00 +0000

How often have you been told that you are slouching? That you should straighten up?

Well, When it comes to preventing tension headaches, perhaps they were giving you excellent advise.

Why is slouching so bad?

A Slouching position puts pressure on your bones, thereby causing discs to become compressed and making you vulnerable to back pain. Also, it causes your pelvic muscles to go slack, which makes it progressively harder to support a well-aligned stance.

Nerves in your neck get pinched as well, causing tight muscles...and tension headaches.

In addition, this posture can cause other problems:

it can lead to incorrect head positioning that can cause improper spine function
your head in this forward posture can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage on your cervical spine
forward-head posture causes a loss of vital lung capacity, by as much as 30 percent, which can lead to heart and vascular problems
your entire gastrointestinal system can be adversely affected (evacuation problems are common with people who have a forward-head posture)
forward-head posture leads to unsightly hunching

How to check to make sure your posture is normal:

Stand in front of a full-length mirror and assume your usual stance.
Are your shoulders somewhat rounded?
Is your pelvis rotated back? Is your head jutted out?
If so, pull your shoulders back, tuck your pelvis forward and make sure your head's not jutted out (I'll bet you look taller now!).
Now turn sideways. What you want is to be able to draw an imaginary vertical line that goes straight through your ear, shoulder, hip, back of your knee and ankle.
To be more precise, you can use string and weight. What you do is attach a pair of scissors to a six-foot length of twine (longer if you're really tall). Have someone hold the free end of the string just above your ear and let the scissors rest on the floor.

If this exercise shows that you're out of alignment, correct your stance using the string as a guide. Now, simply remember the feeling and adjust your stance whenever you sense that you're posture's out of whack.

You should also check for a proper sitting posture, especially if you spend most of your days at a computer terminal or other job that forces you to sit a lot.

If you're like many people, you probably often cross your legs while you lean forward. You may well find that your head is often jutted out toward your computer screen, which results in your shoulders being rounded and your back being stretched out.

To break these habits, follow these simple tips to have proper posture while sitting:

Sit up straight - in other words, assume the military
position: shoulders back, head up, chest out, stomach tight
Get a good chair with back support
Bring your work surface closer to you
Take several breaks during the day to perform a series of stretching and isometric exercises (these can be done sitting or standing)

a. With your hands behind your back, gently pull your shoulders back and maintain this position for one to three minutes

b. Turn your head halfway to the right (or left), then drop your head forward until you feel slight tension. Let the weight of your head gently stretch the neck muscles. Go slowly - no pain! Hold this position for up to two minutes, then turn to the opposite side and repeat.

Remember, an ounce of prevention - in this case, good sitting and standing posture - is worth a pound of cure...especially when we're talking about tension headaches.

To get more information about Tension Headaches read: How to Get Permanent Relief From Chronic Tension Headaches. It will give you several easy-to-follow stretches to do that gradually retrain your muscles to adapt to a proper posture.

The Real Cost of Headaches- Lost time from work, family and fun

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Did you know that headaches are nearly epidemic in the United States? Don't just take my word for it. Consider the following statistics:

The National Headache Foundation says up to 45 million Americans suffer from repeated tension headaches. (Forbes Magazine, June 8, 2004)
According to Dr. Ellen Drexler, director of the Headache Center at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City, chronic daily headaches afflict 4 to 5 percent of the American population. (July 14, 2004 interview in Healthscout)
About half of the people in the world who suffer from a headache don't get any treatment, according to the World Health Organization, which also says that more than 80 percent of adult women and two-thirds of adult men suffer from headache disorders. (July 14, 2004, Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Americans spend over $4 billion annually on over-the-counter drugs and therapies for chronic headaches. Muscle tension accounts for about 90 percent of all headaches. (Health and Fitness Magazine, July 8, 2004)
One in eight American workers is in pain and losing productive time at work, costing U.S. businesses an estimated $61.2 billion annually, with headaches being the most common type of pain, according to a November, 2003 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Reuters, Nov. 11, 2003)
A Cleveland-based study in 2004 found that over 20 percent of 680 children and adolescents involved in that study overused such pain relievers as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Overuse was described by Dr. A. David Rothner of the Children's Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic as taking these medications at least three times a week for six weeks. (Cleveland Plain Dealer on June 12, 2004).
According to Dr. Rothner, children under the age of 19 shouldn't use aspirin because it puts them at risk of Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal disorder. Other risks of overusing over-the-counter pain relievers include kidney failure, liver problems, intestinal and stomach bleeding, and occasional headaches becoming chronic, Rothner said. (Reuters, June 10, 2004)
Women get more headaches than men, and people with advanced degrees suffer more often from tension headaches than the less educated, according to the a
1998 study by the John Hopkins University School of Public Health
Americans make more visits to non-conventional healers (some 600 million visits a year) than they do to medical doctors and spend more money out-of-pocket o do so - about $30 billion annually. (Newsweek Dec. 2,2002)

To get more information about Tension Headaches read: How to Get Permanent Relief From Chronic Tension Headaches. It will give you several easy-to-follow stretches to do that gradually retrain your muscles to adapt to a proper posture.

An exercise stretch to keep tension headaches AWAY!!

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:48:00 +0000

Today I want to share a great stretch you can begin to prevent tension headaches. It is called the behind-the-back stretch. It can be completed in a sitting or standing position.

It's especially useful to do whenever you feel the back of your neck and upper back begin to tighten from having sat too long at your computer.

If you're going to sit, make sure you have a chair with backing that comes halfway up your back.

Hook your arms over the back of the chair and pull your shoulder blades together (if you're standing, assume the military position: head up, shoulders back, stomach tight).

As you do this, make sure to stick your chest out. As this is very important, you should exaggerate a bit - and make sure you keep your head up, too.

Pull your shoulder blades together until you feel a pull in your shoulder joints. Don't go overboard on this; you don't want to cause any pain.

Now hold this stretch for three full minutes (don't cheat and quit early; the length of this stretch is very important).

At the end of this stretch, you should feel your back muscles loosen; you may even feel a warm rush of blood up the back of your neck.

It is helpful to take many breaks throughout the day to perform this stretch - it will help in prevent tension headaches.

Read our series on Tension headaches:
What causes tension headaches
To get more information about Tension Headaches read: How to Get Permanent Relief From Chronic Tension Headaches. It will give you several easy-to-follow stretches to do that gradually retrain your muscles to adapt to a proper posture.

What Causes Tension Headaches?

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:08:00 +0000

In my next few blog entries I want to discuss a common type of headache: The Tension headache. Today I want to address the causes of Tension Headaches.

The Cause of tension headaches is usually tight and spasmed neck, shoulder and/or upper back muscles, which restrict blood flow to the back of the head - it's like stepping on a turned-on garden hose.

In addition, these tight and spasmed muscles irritate nerve endings in the back of the head.

The result: chronic tension headaches.

These neck, shoulder and/or upper back spasms and tightness associated with these spasms are usually a direct result of poor posture - especially poor posture in the workplace (although some kinds of trauma, like a car accident, can be responsible).

Let's say you work at a computer all day, or drive a truck, or work at a drill press in a factory. Chances are, you often find yourself working with your neck jutted out and shoulders rolled in.

When you stay in this posture all day, your neck, shoulders and/or upper back get stretched out. At the same time, your chest constricts, weakening its ability to hold your head upright.

This puts even more strain on your neck, shoulders and upper back, which eventually tighten. After awhile, this constant strain causes microscopic fibers in these muscles to tear. The body, in an effort to prevent this tearing, causes the affected muscles to knot up, or spasm.

Nevertheless, some tearing occurs within these spasms anyway. And when they heal, microscopic threads of scar tissue are left behind. When that happens, these scar tissues effectively lock the spasms in place.

At that point, the spasms can't release no matter how many painkillers or muscle relaxers you take. And since these spasms are continually restricting blood flow to the back of the head and irritating nerve endings there, chronic tension headaches develop.

The only way to get rid of the headaches is to get rid of the spasms, but you can't get rid of the spasms until you get rid of the scar tissue locking them in place.

And that's where the "How to Get Permanent Relief From Chronic Tension Headaches" program comes in. It takes you by the hand and teaches you a little-known soft-tissue technique (sort of like acupressure) that breaks down this scar tissue, allowing for the spasms to relax.

Once that happens, there's no more nerve ending irritation, no more blood flow restriction to the back of your head...and no more headaches.

Of course, the entire cycle will repeat itself unless the posture is corrected.

To get more information about Tension Headaches read: How to Get Permanent Relief From Chronic Tension Headaches. It will give you several easy-to-follow stretches to do that gradually retrain your muscles to adapt to a proper posture.

Relief for pain in the neck: arthritis and bone spurs in the cervical spine

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:01:00 +0000

Our Cervical Traction Neck Pillow is our most popular neck pillow for neck pain, numbness and tingling into the upper extremity, stiff neck, degenerative disc, and loss of cervical lordosis. Today we received this email from a very satisfied customer who also ordered a neck pillow for her sister in law:

"Thank you for the best pillow EVER. I am a registered nurse and have suffered for years with arthritis and bone spurs in my cervical spine. I would wake up each morning with severe headaches and have neck and shoulder pain during the day. Sleeping on this pillow has made such a difference that I no longer dread waking up in the morning. Thanks again and God bless you!"

-Melody Babinski RN, Michigan

Click here for in depth frequently asked questions more information on the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow.

9 Steps to DeClutter your Life....

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:50:00 +0000

Today's Arc4life Blog is taken from April 2008: The Healthy Back and Neck eNewsletter

9 Habits To De-Cluttering Your Mind & Living A More Peaceful, Productive Life -

Control Your Mind. This may sound difficult, but it's easier than you think. No pun intended! One of the pioneers of the self-help revolution, Napoleon Hill, said in his best selling book, Think and Grow Rich, thoughts are things and we become our dominant thought. Nothing could be more true. Problem is, most people concentrate on the negative all of the time... So that's what becomes their reality. Before you go to bed each night, take a few minutes to write down what you are going to (not want to) accomplish the next day. And then take a moment to actually feel what it will be like once you have accomplished those things. Soak in that feeling.
Practice THIS: Once a day find a quiet spot where you can relax for a few minutes. Then try to NOT THINK. Now this is HARDER than it sounds. Our minds are constantly buzzing. The key here is this: You will have one thought followed by the next thought and so on. Try to extend the time in between thoughts. In other words, try to enter into that "gap" in between your thoughts and make that "gap" last as long as you can. Some call this meditation. Others call it calming your mind. Whatever you call it - it takes practice and can have positive effects on your life.
Identify what's important. Things either lead towards your goals or away from them. Most of us spend most of our time doing things that don't lead us to our goals. Make a list of the things that are really important to you and then make a conscious effort to ONLY DO THOSE THINGS. Stop wasting your time on the things that lead you away from where you want to go.
Eliminate. Now that you've identified what is important, you can identify what's not essential. What things in your life are not truly necessary or important to you? What are you thinking about right now that's not on your short list? By eliminating as many of these things as possible, you can get a bunch of junk off your mind.
Evaluate how much sleep you are getting. Once again, most of us do not get enough sleep and when we do sleep, the patterns are all messed up. For example, do you sleep later on weekends than the rest of the work week? Make getting the proper amount and quality of sleep a HUGE priority in your life.
Take a walk.Getting outside and doing some kind of physical activity is a great way to get stuff off your mind. Spending some physical energy clears the mind.
Cut back on TV. Some call the television the "idiot box." It's probably true. People are watching it more and more instead of reading or doing other activities. Television can "stir up" your brain. Cut down on the hours you watch and you will probably have a calming effect on your mind.
Just forget it! We all hold grudges and stew over things we can't change or control. The key is practicing the ability to simply let go and instantly forget the things we can't do anything about. Once again, it's not easy, but it may add years to your life through stress reduction. Clean up your surroundings. Clean and organize you home, car and work area. The subconscious mind picks up on everything. If a cluttered mess surrounds you, your thoughts will become a cluttered mess too. Remember, thoughts become things.

April 2008

-In this Issue-

Article - How To Boost Memory In Just 6 Minutes?
Does Lack Of Sleep Cause Diabetes? And Does The Earth Really Revolve Around The Sun?
Inspirational quote-
Health Tip of the month- 9 Habits To De-Cluttering Your Mind & Living A More Peaceful, Productive Life
Testimonial of the month - Cervical Traction Posture Pump Neck Stretcher
Featured product -Cervical Tractioning for your Neck- A system for neck pain relief

April Sale: $15 off on Cervical Pillow+ Posture Pump + FREE BIOFREEZE 4 oz tube
*** Use Discount Code Arc4Life15 Expires 04/31/2008

Exercises for the Neck - Strengthening

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:51:00 +0000

Exercises specifically for strengthening the neck muscles are also called Isometric exercises. Isometric exercise is a type of exercise involving the static contraction of a muscle without any visible movement in the angle of the joint. In simple terms this means that in these exercises the length of the muscle does not change. As you continue to do these strengthening exercises for the cervical spine you will gain strength in your neck. Over time you should be able to increase the force and number of times you are able to perform the exercises. Here are 4 simple exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles in your neck:

1. Press your palms against your forehead and push against each other, resisting motion. Hold this position for 5 seconds and repeat this exercise 3 times.

2. With this next cervical strengthening exercise place your hand against the side of your head. Try to bring to your ear to your shoulder, resisting the motion. Repeat this exercise on the other side. Hold each position for 5 seconds and when finished relax slowly.

3. Cup both hands against the back of your head. Attempt to push your head back, resisting the motion. Hold this position for 5 seconds, and when finished relax slowly.
4.
In the final cervical strengthening exercise, put your right hand against the right temple. Attempt to turn your chin to your right shoulder, resisting the motion. Repeat this on the left side. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax slowly. Do this neck exercise 3 times.
Read Stretching Exercises for the Neck here.

NJ
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Exercises for the Neck - Cervical Stretching

noreply@blogger.com (NJ) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:25:00 +0000

Stretching your cervical muscles is very important. Stretching exercices for the neck will Restore and increase range of motion in the neck. In the cervical spine, we are looking to increase range of motion in Flexion, Extension, Lateral Flexion and Rotation. Here are four simple exercises you can do everyday:

1. The First neck exercise is called Cervical Flexion (bring your chin to your chest) and Cervical Extension (look up to the ceiling). You want to start by tucking your chin in and gently bringing your head foward and attempting to touch the chin to the chest. Next, gently bend the head backwards as far as it will go. Repeat this exercise 5 times.

2. The next neck exercise is called Lateral Flexion. Bring your right ear to your right shoulder as far as you are able to. Do not rotate or turn your head when you are doing this neck stretch. Then bring your left ear to the left shoulder. Repeat this for 5 times

3. Next part of the program is called Rotation of the Cervical Spine. In this exercise you want to turn your head to the right as far as you possibly can, trying to bring your chin over your shoulders. When you are doing this neck exercise, do not bring up your shoulders. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds. Next do this on the left side of the neck and repeat for 5 times.

4. For the last part of the neck stretching exercise you want to stand with you feet shoulder width apart and place your hands behind your head. Bend from side to side, making sure to bend only with the upper back area and not with the waist or hips. Try to reach the upper elbow to the ceiling. Hold each movement for 3-5 seconds. Now do the same thing with the left side.
5. Standing with your feet apart shoulder length, clasp your hands behind your back, and pull downward toward the floor with your hands. Take a deep breath in and stand on your toes and look at the ceiling while exerting the downward pull. Hold this stance for 3-5 seconds, then exhale slowly. Relax and repeat 5 times.