Chronic Stiff Neck and Shoulder Sufferers Read This!!

I see so many new patients every week that complain of having a stiff neck and sore shoulders. As an acupuncturist living in Austin Texas, I know firsthand how hot summers can be. With the heat comes the increased use of of A/C and ceiling fans to help keep us cool at night. Having a cool breeze blowing on you all night can actually cause a stiff neck and shoulders. Now, if you have any stress in your life , this added agitation to your body can literally be the last straw, and pain and tightness can be the result. The reason for this from our Traditional Chinese Medical perspective is that the wind blowing down on you actually enters the channels and causes a disruption in the flow of Qi( life energy) in your neck and shoulders. This results in pain from tension and stagnation. We see this so often and the first question I ask is “Do you sleep with a fan on?” The answer is yes more times than not. So my advice is to start by turning your fans off and cooling your house down a few degrees. This is a great first step in relieving your neck and shoulder tension. We welcome questions at any time, please call if you have any!!