Four reasons that can cause neck pain when you wake up the next day

That’s it. You just woke up. You had sweet dreams and a decent amount of deep sleep, you think to yourself before you even move your head off the pillow. Oh, no, wait — why in the world do you have neck pain first thing in the morning? Neck pain is fairly common, with up to 30% of adults experiencing some kind of neck pain. What’s worse is that 50% of those with neck pain deal with chronic and frequent pain, according to Practical Pain Management. 

Why does your neck hurt when you wake up?

Are you wondering why a stiff neck ruined your slumber? Truth be told, there could be many reasons why you’re feeling neck pain when you wake up in the morning. You may experiencing neck pain in the morning if you:

• Have bad posture at work — To combat this, try to create an ergonomic workspace. By setting up your workspace to work for you and your body, you can avoid having a stiff neck when you wake up in the morning. 
• Are constantly staring at your phone — If you find yourself looking down at your phone a good portion of the day, there’s a decent chance you’ve developed something called “text neck.” This happens when the muscles in your neck become tense after an extended period of looking down. Try to put your phone down, or raise it up to eye level.
• Slept at a funny angle — Waking up with a crick in your neck is never pleasant. If this happens often, you may consider switching to a different pillow or changing your sleeping position. 
• Strained your neck during physical activity — Whether you’re at work or at the gym, neck strain is sure to cause some discomfort. To avoid a neck strain, try to make sure you’re using correct posture when lifting or carrying items. 

Physical therapy can help you find relief 

Tired of waking up with a sore neck? Consider physical therapy to help ease your tension and discomfort. Our physical therapists at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy can perform a free screening on you to determine what is causing your pain. After that, your specialist will customize a treatment plan to help you find relief. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.