The air show – in all its glory – is one of our favorite summer events! Just be sure to take care of the neck pain that can happen from soaking up the sky all weekend long. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do for your Splenius Capitis, the muscle responsible for rotating your head!

It is very important to stretch out this muscle and keep it active. Do you ever feel sore the day after you watch a movie, concert, or fireworks show? That is because you are straining your neck in the upward position while you look at the sky. Neck stretches are a great way to keep an active range of motion in the neck, maintain good posture, and prevent neck injuries.

One of our favorite stretches is the neck extensor stretch. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Sit with your chest up and looking straight ahead.
  2. Gently push your chin back while looking straight ahead (so that you have a double chin)
  3. Keep your head upright, don’t look up or down. Keep your eyes facing forward.
  4. While holding your chin back with one hand, use your other hand to reach over the top of your head.
  5. Stabilize your chin back as you gently pull the top of your head forward.

This stretch will help lengthen shortened muscles in the neck, as well as relax them. We recommend you do this quick stretch every 10-15 minutes during a show in which you need to look up frequently!

If you feel any discomfort in your neck, or anywhere else in your body, please come see one of our Chiropractic Physicians today. We have 12 locations around the Chicagoland area, you can schedule an appointment at your clinic of choice here.

   
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