Back Pain, Chiropractor, Massage Therapy, Muscle Pain, Sports Injury, Children, Pregnancy - Chiropractic - Australia
Neck Pain
While neck pain is less common than lower back pain, millions of people experience neck pain and/or related arm pain at some point in their life.
Your head is heavy and balanced on a narrow support made up of seven bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are separated from each other by discs, stabilised by joints and ligaments and moved by muscles. Because the neck is so mobile, it is easily damaged. Injury and postural problems are the most common causes of neck pain. Diseases such as arthritis or degeneration of the discs can also cause pain.
The vast majority of episodes of neck pain will get better with time and can be addressed with non-surgical treatments. However, there are a few symptoms that are possible indications of a serious medical condition and patients with these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
• Progressive neurological deficit (weakness in the arms or loss of feeling and coordination in the arms or legs) could indicate nerve damage.
• If sustained or increasing pain is accompanied by lack of appetite, unplanned weight loss, nausea and vomiting, or fever/chills/shakes, there could be a spinal tumour or infection.
Most episodes of acute neck pain are due to a muscle strain or other soft tissue sprain (ligaments, tendons). This type of injury can be caused by a sudden force (such as from a car accident), or from straining the neck (such as a stiff neck from sleeping in the wrong position, or a strain from carrying a heavy suitcase).
Most minor injuries to the ligaments, tendons and muscles in the neck usually heal with time (a couple of days or weeks) because these soft tissues have a good blood supply to bring the necessary nutrients and proteins for healing to take place. Conservative care, such as ice and/or heat, medications, physical therapy, and/or chiropractic manipulations can help alleviate the painful condition while it is healing.
Many people suffering from neck pain have muscle tightness. This tightness may be due to injury or poor posture. Stretching exercises can be very useful in reducing the pain and discomfort, and may eliminate the pain altogether.
STRETCHING TECHNIQUE
- Gently stretch the muscle until you feel it won't go any further.
- Take a deep breath in. You will feel your muscles tighten. Try to hold this position for 10 seconds.
- Breathe out. You will feel your muscles relax. As the muscles relax, you can stretch a little further. Try to hold this new position for 10 seconds.
- Rest for 10 seconds, then repeat the exercise 2 or 3 times.
NECK EXERCISES
- Sit upright in a chair with your head straight and chin tucked in. Place your right hand over the top of your head and hold your head just above your left ear. Pull your head down so your right ear moves closer to your right shoulder. Keep pulling until you feel the muscle stretching. Continue using this stretching technique.
- Sit upright in a chair with your head turned to the left side and your chin tucked in. Place your right hand on the back of your head and your left hand on your chin. Take a deep breath in and try to turn your head back to the centre. Hold strong with your hands so your head is pushing against a resistance. As you relax and breathe out, turn your head to the left.
- Sit in a chair with your hands behind your head and chin tucked in. Keep your forearms close to your head. Pull your chin towards your chest by pushing your head forwards with your hands. This will stretch the back of your neck. Continue using this stretching technique.
While neck pain is less common than lower back pain, millions of people experience neck pain and/or related arm pain at some point in their life.
Your head is heavy and balanced on a narrow support made up of seven bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are separated from each other by discs, stabilised by joints and ligaments and moved by muscles. Because the neck is so mobile, it is easily damaged. Injury and postural problems are the most common causes of neck pain. Diseases such as arthritis or degeneration of the discs can also cause pain.
The vast majority of episodes of neck pain will get better with time and can be addressed with non-surgical treatments. However, there are a few symptoms that are possible indications of a serious medical condition and patients with these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
• Progressive neurological deficit (weakness in the arms or loss of feeling and coordination in the arms or legs) could indicate nerve damage.
• If sustained or increasing pain is accompanied by lack of appetite, unplanned weight loss, nausea and vomiting, or fever/chills/shakes, there could be a spinal tumour or infection.
Most episodes of acute neck pain are due to a muscle strain or other soft tissue sprain (ligaments, tendons). This type of injury can be caused by a sudden force (such as from a car accident), or from straining the neck (such as a stiff neck from sleeping in the wrong position, or a strain from carrying a heavy suitcase).
Most minor injuries to the ligaments, tendons and muscles in the neck usually heal with time (a couple of days or weeks) because these soft tissues have a good blood supply to bring the necessary nutrients and proteins for healing to take place. Conservative care, such as ice and/or heat, medications, physical therapy, and/or chiropractic manipulations can help alleviate the painful condition while it is healing.
Many people suffering from neck pain have muscle tightness. This tightness may be due to injury or poor posture. Stretching exercises can be very useful in reducing the pain and discomfort, and may eliminate the pain altogether.
STRETCHING TECHNIQUE
- Gently stretch the muscle until you feel it won't go any further.
- Take a deep breath in. You will feel your muscles tighten. Try to hold this position for 10 seconds.
- Breathe out. You will feel your muscles relax. As the muscles relax, you can stretch a little further. Try to hold this new position for 10 seconds.
- Rest for 10 seconds, then repeat the exercise 2 or 3 times.
NECK EXERCISES
- Sit upright in a chair with your head straight and chin tucked in. Place your right hand over the top of your head and hold your head just above your left ear. Pull your head down so your right ear moves closer to your right shoulder. Keep pulling until you feel the muscle stretching. Continue using this stretching technique.
- Sit upright in a chair with your head turned to the left side and your chin tucked in. Place your right hand on the back of your head and your left hand on your chin. Take a deep breath in and try to turn your head back to the centre. Hold strong with your hands so your head is pushing against a resistance. As you relax and breathe out, turn your head to the left.
- Sit in a chair with your hands behind your head and chin tucked in. Keep your forearms close to your head. Pull your chin towards your chest by pushing your head forwards with your hands. This will stretch the back of your neck. Continue using this stretching technique.
