The year of 2016 is likely one that many people are looking forward to forgetting. It was a stressful year for a lot of people, and this stress may be manifesting itself in many negative physical ways. One way is the influence it may have on a person's neck and shoulder pain. Managing this problem requires a dual-pronged approach.

Stress Is A Major Contributor To Muscle Tension

Whether a person was stressed by the political climate of the country, the frightening interactions with Russia, or their favorite celebrity passing away, 2016 was a tough year. That stress likely manifests itself in a chronic way by causing people to literally "tense up" when they think about their stress.

This tension is primarily caused in the muscles and is a reflex reaction. It is particularly problematic when stress comes on suddenly or if a person suffers from a constant rate of moderate to high stress. Tension in the muscles is a survival technique, but it is one that will lead to serious pain in the neck and shoulders.

This Tension Can Lead To Neck And Shoulder Pain

While celebrating the beginning of 2017 may have helped some people relax a little, all that muscle tension has likely contributed to serious neck pain. Estimates state that about 10 percent of the people in the country suffer from chronic neck or shoulder pain. This rate is likely high connected to the 25-50 percent who experience moderate to high levels of stress.

All that stress and muscle tension will eventually cause the muscles in the neck and shoulder to wear out and experience high levels of pain. This is especially true if someone sleeps on them poorly or has a rough night's sleep filled with stressful thoughts. Thankfully, it is possible to manage these conditions.

Management Of This Dual Concern

The first step in managing this problem is to get chronic neck and shoulder pain treated. This often requires testing and imaging and a variety of adjustments by a skilled chiropractor. These adjustments will relax the muscles in the neck and shoulders and help alleviate any serious pain that may be threatening to spread.

After this treatment, it is important to learn stress-management techniques. Breathing exercises, yoga mastery, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and many other therapies can be used to teach people positive and constructive ways of stress relief that can make it easier for them to avoid muscle tension in the future.

While there's no guarantee that 2017 won't have its own high levels of stress, it is possible to recover from the stress of 2016. With chiropractic help and by mastering relaxation techniques, people with stress-related neck and shoulder pain can recover quickly and easily.