Neck Therapy
When someone is considered “a pain in the neck,” it isn’t a compliment! Neck pain is no joke. You may experience pain with turning your head to look over your shoulder, looking up or down, or having trouble finding a comfortable position while sleeping. Many individuals now are dealing with neck issues due to using technology, sitting at a desk doing computer work, and being attached to their phones for long periods. You may even be having headaches that can be attributable to neck pain.
Having the entire picture of your symptoms, functional limitations you are working through, and any concerns about your pain or starting therapy will only help us help you reach your goals.
What is neck pain?
Also known as cervicalgia, neck pain is any soreness, stiffness, spasms, or other discomfort in the neck. It is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point. We often see neck pain associated with headaches and sometimes in conjunction with shoulder pain.
- Muscle strain: Overuse of the neck muscles, such as from sitting at a computer for long periods, can lead to muscle strain.
- Age-related changes. As with other joints in the body, neck joints tend to wear with age. This can cause pain and stiffness or decreases in range of motion
- Nerve compression: A pinched nerve in the neck can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
- Injuries: Neck pain can be caused by a variety of injuries. Traumatic injuries that cause sudden jerking of the head or neck can put a strain on muscles and connective tissues that cause pain.
Common causes for neck pain
Neck pain is the result of a variety of factors, including:
- Poor posture: Sitting or standing with poor posture strains your neck muscles and can lead to pain, stiffness, and headaches. People who spend significant time in front of computers are particularly prone.
- Injuries: Neck pain can result from a sudden injury, such as a whiplash from a car accident. We also see neck injuries from simple falls.
- Degenerative conditions: As you age, the discs in your neck can start to degenerate (the space between your vertebrae decreases), leading to pain, stiffness, and nerve involvement that can cause symptoms that potentially run down your arm and into your hands.
- Arthritis: Arthritis can also cause neck pain — because arthritis can cause inflammation and damage to the joints in your neck.
Free Consultation
Take advantage of a complimentary 15-minute phone conversation with a licensed Physical Therapist to discuss your concerns and ensure Uncommon Physical Therapy is best for you
(we know it will be)!
How to relieve neck pain
If you have neck pain, there are a few things you can do to relieve it:
Let’s start by just stating the obvious. Our heads are heavy. So we need a great support system for that weight — starting with our neck!
We will include a shoulder screen for an individual experiencing neck pain because many of the muscles associated with the neck joints are a part of our shoulder!
Postural strengthening: Almost all physical therapy for neck discomfort will have a component of deep cervical muscle strengthening. Scientific evidence shows that weakness in these muscles is a significant cause of neck pain and headaches.
- Stretching: Gentle stretching exercises can help to improve flexibility and range of motion in your neck. Manual therapy: Hands-on soft tissue mobilization to relieve muscular tightness and trigger points helps return range of motion and decrease pain
- Dry needling: Scientific evidence is overwhelming for the use of Dry needling. It is a treatment that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. Dry needling effectively relieves neck pain and headaches caused by muscle tension.
- Rest: Give your neck a break from activities that make it worse, including avoiding sitting or standing for long periods or avoiding looking down at your phone or computer for extended periods.
- Ice or heat: Applying ice or heat to your neck can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
