Neck Pain
Neck pain comes in many guises, it can manifest as long term, chronic nagging pain which is ever present, or short term acute severe debilitating pain which affects every aspect of life.
Although not as common as back pain it still affects around 5% of the population at any one time and is slightly more common in women than men. The pain can be localised to the neck or can radiate down the arm or upwards to the head and at times manifests concurrently with shoulder pain. If there is nerve pressure in the neck symptoms may include numbness, pins and needles and muscle weakness in the arm.
The common causes of neck pain are:
When you first see your Chiropractor for neck pain they will take a case history and conduct a thorough Chiropractic, Orthopaedic and Neurological examination. The Chiropractic exam involves checking your posture, palpating for subluxations and muscle tension or spasms as well as checking for temperature changes around the spine and perhaps looking for electrical changes in the muscles connecting to the spine. The Orthopaedic exam involves conducting various movements to further localise your problem and a Neurological examination involving muscle, reflex and nerve tests. Often x-rays are taken looking for bone spurs, spinal degeneration or disc narrowing, also to rule out pathology.
Your Chiropractor will treat your neck with spinal adjustments, which can take many forms such as a low amplitude high velocity thrust or perhaps using an activator which delivers a rapid tap to the area of concern. Usually postural advice will be given as well as corrective exercises.
Research published in a 2007 issue of JMPT shows that on examination of several trials of Chiropractic care for chronic neck pain that there is high quality evidence of significant pain improvements even on 12 week follow up.
Although not as common as back pain it still affects around 5% of the population at any one time and is slightly more common in women than men. The pain can be localised to the neck or can radiate down the arm or upwards to the head and at times manifests concurrently with shoulder pain. If there is nerve pressure in the neck symptoms may include numbness, pins and needles and muscle weakness in the arm.
The common causes of neck pain are:
- Spinal degeneration, which occurs with age, and also can occur sometime after injury, this is associated with arthritis, formation of calcium spurs, inflammation, narrowing of the intervertebral disc and spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal.
- Whiplash, usually occurring because of a car accident where the neck is suddenly forced to move in one direction and the resulting rebound creating a whipping motion, apart from the immediate symptoms, long term pain lasting many years can occur.
- Poor posture is probably the most common cause of non-specific neck pain, sitting is considered the new smoking due to its delirious effects on many aspects of health. Sitting at a chair especially when working on a computer causes the normal physiological curve of the neck to be reversed and if this is maintained for too long the neck ligaments and discs become strained in time resulting in pain and reduced mobility of the neck. This reduced mobility becomes a cause of discomfort and results in reduced function such as inability to turn the neck whilst changing lanes when driving.
When you first see your Chiropractor for neck pain they will take a case history and conduct a thorough Chiropractic, Orthopaedic and Neurological examination. The Chiropractic exam involves checking your posture, palpating for subluxations and muscle tension or spasms as well as checking for temperature changes around the spine and perhaps looking for electrical changes in the muscles connecting to the spine. The Orthopaedic exam involves conducting various movements to further localise your problem and a Neurological examination involving muscle, reflex and nerve tests. Often x-rays are taken looking for bone spurs, spinal degeneration or disc narrowing, also to rule out pathology.
Your Chiropractor will treat your neck with spinal adjustments, which can take many forms such as a low amplitude high velocity thrust or perhaps using an activator which delivers a rapid tap to the area of concern. Usually postural advice will be given as well as corrective exercises.
Research published in a 2007 issue of JMPT shows that on examination of several trials of Chiropractic care for chronic neck pain that there is high quality evidence of significant pain improvements even on 12 week follow up.