#Live Whole Health #140: Acupressure for head and neck

Do you have “text neck?” This problem comes from having our necks bent forward looking at our devices for long periods of time. This can cause pain and fatigue in the head and neck and shoulders.

One excellent self-care strategy for a variety of head, neck or shoulder pain involves using acupressure to relax the muscles of the head and neck. Acupressure is a massage therapy technique based in ancient traditions, and it’s over 3,000 years old. Massage therapy and acupressure have many physiological and general well-being benefits. Some people have even found benefit from using acupressure for headaches.

Whether you have a headache or not, join Dr. Lisa Lourey, licensed acupuncturist at the Omaha VA Medical Center, for this brief acupressure self-care routine for headaches.

• Always wash hands thoroughly before and after practice.
• Remove jewelry, such as a watch, rings, bracelet, earrings, necklace.
• Loosen restrictive clothing.
• Be in a comfortable position.
• Remove environmental distractions, like your phone or computer, except for the screen you are following along with.
• You may wish to play soothing background sound or music.
• Have drinking water available.

Precautions

• Avoid massage to any areas of swelling, redness, rash, or broken skin.
• If you have a bleeding disorder condition or take medication to thin your blood, use light pressure.
• Do not use during pregnancy.

Additional acupressure routines and other self-care videos can be found in the #LiveWholeHealth archives on VA News: #LiveWholeHealth – VA News.

More information

Self-care strategies are an important part of our health and well-being. Learning simple techniques to care for ourselves improves quality of life and empowers us to take charge of our life and health. Learn more about well-being programming at VA: Well-Being Programs – Whole Health (va.gov).