Neck Pain Treatment

Neck pain is discomfort in any of the structures in the neck. These include muscles and nerves, as well as spinal vertebrae and the cushioning discs in between.

These days modern living often entails a lot of driving, bad posture, hours spent hunched over a workstation, sleeping in an uncomfortable position or generally jarring yourself whilst playing sport or exercising. Any of which can play havoc with our necks. So it isn’t surprising that neck pain is the second most common complaint that chiropractors treat.

Your Chiropractor will take an in-depth case history which will include questions on the exact location of your pain, types of pain, exacerbating and relieving factors, referral pattern of pain, probable causes, family history and your past medical history. A full physical examination will be made involving: postural observation, spinal palpation, soft tissue assessment, orthopaedic and neurological tests. X-rays may taken if deemed necessary. Once a diagnosis has been confirmed your Chiropractor will discuss specific treatment options with you. This will most likely involve spinal adjustments to your neck to reduce the cause of joint inflammation. This will allow your body to regain normal joint movement and freedom, alleviating the cause of your neck pain. Soft tissue work will take place to the tight/weak associated musculature which will reduce tension and minimize the chance of spinal misalignment re-occurrence and further reduce pain. The combination of spinal adjusting and soft tissue therapy will allow your joints and muscles to relax and function properly, ultimately removing not only the pain but also the underlying cause. Your Chiropractor will also recommend rest and the use of ice packs to reduce inflammation and then, once healing is underway, rehabilitation exercises involving home stretching and strengthening exercises will be prescribed to improve strength, endurance and stability. It is important to be patient with your care as it can take weeks and sometimes months of treatment to improve and correct. Continuity of care and attending your appointments is very important as the treatments work on retraining and strengthening the muscles and ligaments that support the joints.