Can Chiropractic Help With Neck Pain?
Last updated on March 15, 2023
Neck pain is a growing problem within our society, we are seeing it more and more commonly. Conversations within the clinic are often based around suffering from such conditions for extended periods of time (chronic) and it is quite interesting in the fact that people brush it off and say “I just put up with it”, “it is normal for me”. Let me ask you this, is suffering from pain for extended periods of time ever normal?
Neck pain is often related to a number of different issues and can be experienced with other pains such as shoulder, mid back, arm pain as well as migraines, headaches and dizziness. There are many different structures making up the neck and shoulder regions of the body. This includes muscles, ligaments, other soft tissue structures such as disc and bursas as well as many bones. Collectively, these structures keep us upright, keep us moving and help to protect our delicate central/peripheral nervous system.
Neck pain can be specifically located to an area or more generalised (non-specific). It can be associated with nerve pain extending into the arms or legs, this phenomenon is referred to as radiculopathy.
While neck pain can be very specific to the individual, some more common symptoms that we see come into our office include; sharp, dull, throbbing, nagging, shooting pains, electrical pain, numbness and tingling, weakness, headaches and range of motion reductions. The location of the pain can vary depending on the structure affected, these can include:
- Pain experienced over the spine
- Pain down the a side (or even both sides) of the neck extending into the shoulders
- Pain into the top of the shoulder
- Pain can travel down to the mid back
- Pain radiating down the arm or up the neck
- Pain when moving the neck
- Weakness of the shoulder and/or the arm
- Headaches and/or migraines
WHAT CAN CAUSE NECK PAIN?
Common causes of neck pain that we see coming into our office are related to a person’s lifestyle and an accumulation of stress on the structures over the long term, we refer to this as micro traumas. To be more specific, here a few examples (but are not limited to):
- Poor posture
- Poor desk setup or sitting on the couch with laptop on lap
- Looking down at mobile phones
- Work stressors [1]
- Repetitive movements
- Poor lifting technique
- Incorrect pillow
- Sleeping on the couch
- Nursing children
- Self “cracking”
Of course, neck pain can be attributed to acute traumas such as slips, falls, motor vehicle accidents, sporting injuries as well as work incidents. Regardless if it is related to micro or macro traumas, it is important to have the area thoroughly assessed by a professional to determine the cause and the damage so it can be addressed appropriately for the best outcomes.
CAN A CHIROPRACTOR HELP WITH NECK PAIN?
Chiropractors have had great results with treating neck pain depending on the cause and may be able to help relieve pain in the neck and surrounding areas by using specific techniques aimed at correcting the underlying root cause of the issue [2]. As primary practitioners, a thorough assessment must be done before any treatment is delivered to identify the cause and conclude that treatment is safe, effective and the individual is actually standing in the correct office.
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors are able to offer lifestyle adaptations, tips & tricks aimed at reducing aggravating factors. Mobilisation techniques are often a great way to get the area moving better to consequently relieve pressure off the nerves, ligaments and regional muscles [2].
Get assessed by one of our chiropractors TODAY to see if they can help you with your neck pain!
Sources:
[1] Frutiger M, Borotkanics R. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Suggest Strength Training and Workplace Modifications May Reduce Neck Pain in Office Workers. Pain Pract. 2021 Jan;21(1):100-131. doi: 10.1111/papr.12940. Epub 2020 Aug 10. PMID: 32657531.
[2] Coulter ID, Crawford C, Vernon H, Hurwitz EL, Khorsan R, Booth MS, Herman PM. Manipulation and Mobilization for Treating Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis for an Appropriateness Panel. Pain Physician. 2019 Mar;22(2):E55-E70. PMID: 30921975; PMCID: PMC6800035.
