Neck pain is not uncommon, especially in seniors. As a person ages, normal wear and tear can cause damage to the cervical spine, leading to pain. Muscles can become more easily strained as muscles weaken and tighten up with age, and complications from other health conditions can lead to an increased likelihood that your loved one will struggle with neck pain at some point.
You and personal care at home caregivers can help her find relief and help her learn how she can prevent neck pain from occurring in the first place.
Neck Pain Causes in the Elderly
The neck is responsible for keeping the head upright and allowing all the movement needed to navigate through the day. While not always considered physically exhausting, all of that action can lead to instances where neck pain may flare up.
When not caused by a medical condition or health problem, neck pain is often caused by these actions.
- Sleeping improperly with too many pillows or not enough so the neck remains in an awkward position as your loved one sleeps.
- Being overly stressed and tense can lead to tight muscles in the neck and shoulders, causing neck pain.
- Sitting in one position for too long.
- Bending over and looking at a phone, a laptop, or even a book for too long without any breaks can lead to neck pain.
- Attempting chores or tasks that require more arm, shoulder, and neck strength than your loved one has. Even carrying a heavy purse on one shoulder can lead to neck pain.
Five Tips for Preventing Neck Strain and Pain
Knowing what is causing the neck pain is the first step to finding relief. Some key areas your loved one or personal care at home provider might look into for finding solutions can include:
Change Pillows
She should change her pillows and perhaps even her bed if she often wakes up with neck pain. She might need more support for her neck while sleeping. She can also try different positions, such as sleeping on her back instead of her side.
Ask for Help
Ask someone to help with chores that aggravate her neck. A personal care at home provider can help with chores around the home that might bother your loved one. Some chores her personal care at home provider may help with are chopping up veggies (reducing being hunched over), carrying heavier items like laundry or garbage, or assisting with chores that might have your loved one stretching or reaching too much.
Take Breaks from Screens
Take frequent breaks when reading or looking at a screen. She should get up and move if possible. If stuck in a sitting position for a long time, such as a plane ride or long car ride, she should stretch as much as possible and spend time looking up and around.
Stay Active
Staying active will help keep muscles strong and capable of supporting all of the movement the neck needs to do each day. While it might not seem like a daily walk with her personal care at home provider will help with neck pain, it can reduce stress that causes pain as well as keep her healthy.
Use Good Posture
Keeping the head properly aligned over the body can help reduce the risk of straining the neck and developing pain. Good posture should be used both while walking and while sitting.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Personal Care at Home in Greeley, CO, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Fort Collins, CO, today. Call (970) 829-0447
At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Fort Collins, CO, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Fort Collins, Ault, Berthoud, Eaton, Evans, Fort Collins, Garden City, Greeley, Johnstown, Laporte, Loveland, Milliken, Nunn, Pierce, Wellington, Windsor and surrounding areas in Colorado.
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