neck pain and teeth grinding

[annalisa]

Hi everybody!
I have 30 years old friend who often develops contractures in his neck, shoulders, and upper back area. The last one occurred to his neck while he was running…
He told me that in the last year he noticed that often he grind his teeth while sleeping in prone position, either with his head turn right and left.
He doesn’t refer any temporomandibular joint pain.
I wander if his frequent contractures could be linked with his teeth grinding.
I never heard about this so i thought about asking you advice.

Thank you!

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[Judith Mollet]

Hi there, do you really mean "contractures" or have you, by accident used the word to translate "contrazione" as in spasms, muscle contractions, hypertone muscles and so on? (contractures are not the same as contractions)
Does he always grind his teeth at night independant of sleeping position? (when on his back or side or prone)
Does he always sleep prone with the head to one side? This alone over many hours can account for problems in neck, shoulders and upper back.
Has he had a proper physio assessment of neck, shoulders and upper back, what was found? treatment if any so far? postural advice given for during waking and sleeping?
Grinding teeth can be due to stress. Neck symptoms can also have stress as factor.
I'd expect headaches and or triggerpoints in relevant muscles from grinding. Upper back seems a bit far away, but one has to assess the whole situation. I think you'll have to find out more and get a better picture of your friends problem.
regards JM

[HealthJunkie]

Neck pain can be relieved by exercising and stretching.

[dhaxelbarqs]

sleeping in prone position helps. And maybe do not use pillows. Also for teeth grinding, it's caused by stress.

[ryxin01]

yeah. .when you get a neck pain..all you have to do is exercising and stretching ..

[pudding_bowl]

Is your person a hyperventilator?... maybe you think that's come from left field. But stress and teeth grinding are very related as is stress and hyperventilation.
Being a chronic hyperventilator can cause pain in neck shoulder and upper back. And the pain found while running in the neck can be the accessory respiratory muscle attachment to the first rib.
It's just a thought that may be worth investigating.

[msk101]

For the hyperventilation/accessory muscle breather as per Pudding Bowl, check out Buteyko technique things. For teeth grindy things - suggest he see a dentist for a night guard and see if that helps.

msk101