“Neck pain” is something a lot of people experience from time to time. There are many different causes for it, including things like stress and tension, injuries, muscle issues, poor posture – the list goes on! The main issue here though is that there is a ton of misinformation out there about neck pain, which has caused people to become confused about what exactly causes neck pain and how to prevent it.
Although everyone experiences neck pain differently, there are quite a few factors that can contribute to it. At the end of the day, we all have different lifestyles, different jobs, and different responsibilities. Additionally, most if not all of us are in stressful situations on a near-constant basis that may make us feel tense.
What can be a deeper problem that could cause neck pain?
- Loss of a healthy cervical (neck) curve
- The structural shift of the spine
- Muscle imbalances
- History of trauma
- Myopathology
When patients search for a healthcare professional to help address their neck pain, more times than not they seek someone who will give them some form of instant relief, maybe help them with a “pinched nerve”.
Have you ever wondered how a chiropractor can accurately determine whether the pain that’s associated with your neck is from problems in your neck or elsewhere? One way is to compare and contrast the structure of the spine of someone who has suffered for weeks-months with their necks vs. someone who has suffered for months-years-decades.
Working with neck pain, it is essential to consider these 4 things:
1) Has there been any trauma to the neck?
2) If there is any damage or degeneration, how long has it been there?
3) Overall, how is the health and alignment of the entire cervical spine (neck)?
4) Apart from the specific vertebra (bones of the neck) how is the health of all the discs, muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues?
When a doctor is treating a patient, it’s important to remember that symptoms can be extremely subjective. Each case will vary in its own unique way – so rather than making assumptions about the pain and where the pain originated from, or what your condition may be, it’s most prudent for a doctor to consider all possibilities based on their extensive knowledge of health science AND treatments specifically designed around each individual case.
Choices for neck pain treatment
Choosing GP management versus Neuro-Structural Chiropractic care is simply a matter of deciding which strategy will help the patient cope best with the symptoms they’re dealing with. If sufficient precautions are taken and treatments are prescribed by a carefully selected practitioner, then the patient should ultimately be able to make their way to comfort no matter what course of action they choose.
Neck Pain Relief Exercises
Being hunched over a screen is not natural. In fact, looking down at digital devices too much can do real damage to your cervical curve – the shape of your neck. Scientists have recently discovered that poor curvature of the neck can correlate with a myriad of health issues, ranging from minor back pain to arthritis or even early onset osteoporosis in severe cases.
- Increase the mobility of the tissues (muscles and ligaments) surrounding the neck to allow for structural correction. Online you will find lots of videos that will show you different exercises and stretches you can do.
- Utilize a fulcrum and pivot point. This could be achieved using a rolled-up towel – however, for the best results, our chiropractors may prescribe a cervical denneroll orthotic for specific and best results.
- The most important step is to get moving and return normal motion back to the individual joints and vertebra of the spine. When the cervical spine has a better alignment, motion is regained, reducing stress on the surrounding soft tissue and allowing for better overall function. This is achieved with specific chiropractic adjustments.
What else could be contributing to neck pain?
It can be hard to pinpoint the reason for back or neck pain, there are lots of factors to take into consideration. Someone’s level of physical activity plays a large role in their overall wellness, not just with their spine and surrounding muscles.
-Poor sleeping positions – it can be uncomfortable to sleep on a too soft or big pillow.
-Poor posture and hours at the computer. Looking down for prolonged periods of time typing away on your keyboard can start to warp the posture of the neck and cause the surrounding muscles to tighten.
