Bermuda is seeing an increase in pains in the neck and not just those folk who rub you the wrong way.

According to massage therapists there's been a noticeable increase in the number of people with stress-related tension, including pains in the neck.

Massages are healthy treatment for those feeling anxious and stressed. Therapist Let Casillano at The Spa at Elbow Beach said she's noticed a significant increase in the stress levels of all her clients since the economic downturn. She's been on staff at the Paget hotel for four years.

"I have noticed in the past two years that people have a lot more tension especially in their neck and shoulder area," she said. "This is where many people store stress but it's also the area where muscles can become tense from overuse by those sitting at a desk working on computers."

A self-employed holistic practitioner said he has noticed the same.

"Many people are feeling insecure about their jobs," said the man, who asked not to be named. "I remember the days when people said 'oh I have a secure job' but there's no such thing today."

And he said office workers are among the most nervous about losing their jobs. This may lead them to work longer hours which means more hours of poor posture and, consequently, more tense muscles with aches and pains.

"I've not only seen people coming to me since the fall in the economy, but I think people are also going to gyms and to bars they are looking for avenues to release their stress," he said.

"I would say that I have seen an increase in muscle tension in the neck and shoulder area and also in people's feet. I advise my clients that I find with tension in their feet to take time and care for them. I remind people that your feet have carried you everywhere you've been in this life and you must honour them."

Gillian's spa owner Gillian Edwards said the recession has made clients more aware of how they spend their money.

"Many of my regular clientele are determined to keep up their programmes as part of their overall health. They see it as good for their body parts and as a general stress reliever to life in general. Not just the effects caused by the recession," she said.

She said in particular many of her male self-employed clients tell her they are having a hard time financially. And she said she has noticed increased tension in their muscles, especially in the lower back.

A Thai massage therapist avoided making a correlation between the recession and an increase in muscle tension in her clients. "Clients do not discuss this with us," she said.

But she did say that she has noticed an increase in the number of people who complain of not being able to sleep at night. "I don't know why they cannot sleep but it is causing them to have stiffness in the neck and shoulder area."

According to Ms Casillano the neck and shoulder areas are often neglected in regular stretching. Those who have their own exercise routines may jog and do some sit-ups. In such cases they stretch muscles in the leg and ankles and many also do forward bends to stretch the back but that's it.

Ms Edward said Gillian's has specially designed a treatment for the neck and shoulders.

She said she and her therapists concentrate on any area of the body where muscles are tense.

Lactic acid build-up is what is usually causes muscle stiffness and tension, she said. Physical manipulation is necessary to break up the acid crystals and make muscles supple.

Therapists say it is important to drink water after a deep tissue massage to help rid the body of the toxins that have been released. And they agree that one of the great benefits of massage is that it allows people to detach from their worries if only for a while.