“How do I relieve tension at the base of my skull?”
I am a 26 year old male. I want to know how can I relieve tension at the base of my skull?
13 Answers
Six way stretch of your neck should help.
Stretching is a great way to start. The stretch I tell patients to do involves standing straight, push one palm to the floor or hold on to a stationary object, with the other hand on top of your head and gently stretch the neck in the opposite direction. Traction away from out stretched palm and gently turn your nose to your arm pit and pull towards the floor. Static stretch 10 seconds on each side 3 times. Perform the stretch 3-4 times daily. If there is any pain, stop.
Tension at the base of the skull may be due to stress. However, I would suggest you get evaluated by a chiropractor.
A pillow that is the wrong size, or posture that includes hunkering forward over the desk and then tipping your head up, relative to the torso, to get your eyes to orient toward objects. To relieve the tension could be as simple as stretching the neck forward for 30 second 3x, and holding it gently in left and right rotation for 30 seconds 3x. Or, it could be more complicated and include stretching and strengthening exercises of the entire body using a precisely designed program. This may need to be combined with clinical care. You should be able to manage comfortable posture no matter what your occupation is. If you can’t, you need clinical help like chiropractic or physical therapy...
Tension at the base of your skull is typically due to bad posture throughout a day from working on a computer or sitting all day. The muscles are called your suboccipitals. They consist of 3 small muscles that function to rotate your head side to side. A tip for relieving some of this tension is what I like to call "water bottle decompression". What you're going to do is get a 350 mL bottle of water, freeze it and then once it's frozen wrap a thin towel around it, place it on the floor, and lay face up.
Good morning,
Chiropractic care is likely the solution to your issue. We would have to make sure you don't have any other larger issues as well in this region of your spine.
Thank you for reaching out.
Chiropractic care is likely the solution to your issue. We would have to make sure you don't have any other larger issues as well in this region of your spine.
Thank you for reaching out.
Tension at the base of the skull can result from many different causes including poor head posture, stress or previous injury. It is important to determine the cause of the tension and what conditions may have resulted from the tension. It is important to have a comprehensive examination to determine the cause and effects of the tension so an appropriate treatment plan can be recommended. I would highly recommend that you consult a chiropractor or physical therapist for a complete comprehensive examination so you can get the proper treatment.
Steve Lipschutz, DC, CCSP
Steve Lipschutz, DC, CCSP
Good afternoon. One of the best ways to relieve tension at the base of the skull is by using a cervical orthotic to traction the neck at least once a day. You can find the Apex Cervical Orthosis traction block on Amazon. It should only be used 5 to 10 minutes a day. You may need to contact your local Chiropractor for further instructions.
All the best,
Dr. Hedie
All the best,
Dr. Hedie
Try to get a deep acupressure massage along the base of your skull.
Yes, try the nodding exercise. Tuck your chin slightly, cast your eyes down at a 45-degree angle, and gently nod your chin towards your chest.
Good morning!
A move that I personally like to do will require a spouse, friend or family member to help. You can do it yourself but I don’t think the results will be as great. Take your thumb or have them take their thumb, start at the base of your skull and slowly rub down the neck about an inch or so with some pressure. Do this about 5-7 times. If this does not work for you (everyone responds differently), then let me know and I have other moves for you to try. This one is my favorite though.
Dr. Kortni
A move that I personally like to do will require a spouse, friend or family member to help. You can do it yourself but I don’t think the results will be as great. Take your thumb or have them take their thumb, start at the base of your skull and slowly rub down the neck about an inch or so with some pressure. Do this about 5-7 times. If this does not work for you (everyone responds differently), then let me know and I have other moves for you to try. This one is my favorite though.
Dr. Kortni
You should see a chiropractor who can investigate the nature of the tension, rule out underlying conditions and adjust your neck to re-leave your body from a tension.
Massage to the "suboccipital" muscles is a great way to relieve tension in the skull. You can find diagrams of these muscles anywhere on the internet.
