(Massage Therapy)
GENERAL EXPLANATION:
Stiff neck is a condition of acute muscular spasm of the neck and often occurs in the morning due to improper height of the pillow during sleep, an improper sleeping position which can cause an overextension of a group of muscles in the neck for a comparatively long period of time, or invasion of wind and cold in the local area which can cause muscular spasm. The main clinical manifestations are stiffness, pain and motor impairment in the neck, with the head, shoulder, back, and upper arm involved in severe cases. Massage therapy can soothe the tendons, activate the blood, warm the muscular spasm, relax the muscles, and stop pain.
NOTES:
1. Stiff neck in most cases can be visibly relieved with one treatment in order to consolidate the therapeutic result, treatment can by repeated once again the next time.
2. It is necessary to keep the neck warm and not sleep on a high pillow.
TREATMENT:
1. Forcefully and simultaneously dig and knead bilateral Fuyang and Xuanzhong(GB-39) with the hands 50 to 100 times each. At the same time, ask the patient to move his neck laterally and lift his head backwards as much as possible.
2. Simultaneously dig bilateral Kunlun(BL-60) 50 to 100 times.
3. Roll and knead the neck and shoulder till the skin becomes red.
4. Emphatically grasp the neck and shoulder downwards and on the tenderness.
5. Press Fengchi(GB-20), Fengfu(DU-16), Tianzhu(BL-10), Dazhui(DU-14), Jianjing(GB-21), Tianzong(SI-11) and Quepen(ST-12) 30 seconds each.
6. Dig Chengjiang(RN-24) for 10 seconds.
7. Apply safflower oil or the tendon-soothing liquid on the local area.
