Importance of Deep Neck Flexors for managing LPR issues
Have had LPR for 2+ years, but a messed up neck for nearly a decade after some trauma & constant poor form doing exercise
I can manage ok with a bland diet, Gaviscon Adv & taking Lansoprazole during a flare.
I felt the need to bring up something I feel is important which is addressing weak Deep Neck Flexors (either side or both). Weak DNF can cause a whole host of neck issues. Tight extensors on the back of neck, sub occipital pain & headaches, tenderness near the Adams Apple, *swallowing issues* even jaw alignment/pressure...
You need to release tight areas on back of the neck with a lacrosse ball or pinch with fingers muscles in the front like the STM. Then gently stretch the neck with a chin tuck stretch (try to get a double chin, have the back of your head feel raised & try to relax the back of neck as much as you can & pull your head straight down &/or to each armpit) - can be difficult to chin tuck with tight extensors & so it needs to be released as best as you can. I've even tried to decompress my neck using a resistance band attached to a door.
Then hopefully you can increase with more chin tuck exercises - ensure the STM doesn't take over fron the DNF which helps flex the neck too but it can impede, use your hand or res. bands for resistance etc it has a made a difference for me in swallowing and neck issues. Many of us are looking down on screens constantly or in poor posture following injury/trauma, scapula issues can affect the neck too causing forward head posture & that can cause a dormant DNF too so addressing the underlying cause is important ie. Having LPR on top is torture because adding PND & reflux into an already messed up neck will make life difficult even at rest.
I've been doing physio on it for a few months now, it's been quite cumbersome/slow as i didn't have all these pointers initially I had to figure it out by myself, I have a ton of issues on the right side of my body too affecting the scapula, ribs/core & even hips and one area can regress to affect the other.. and it's a vicious cycle
But anyway the takeaway to this post, sort out as many issues with the neck & even scapula areas with physio like chin tucks ie (& if anyone has other suggestions to improve the neck please do share) - to ensure you have a strong neck to tolerate better the issues LPR brings.