Neck Exercises
Thyroid surgery necessitates that you have your neck extended, or bent backwards, for the duration of the operation. This may result in a muscle spasm leading to neck pain and tension following surgery, particularly in those individuals with pre-existing neck problems. The Endocrine Surgical Unit at the University of Sydney recommends that patients perform neck exercises both before and after surgery to help reduce any muscle strain. These gentle stretches include flexion and rotation of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, flexion and extension of the posterior neck muscles, lateral side bends to stretch the sides of the neck and shoulder shrugs to relax the back and sides of the neck.