Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability in the world with an estimated 96 million people who experience neck pain every year. Studies have shown that 50% of neck pain cases develop into chronic neck pain which can affect an individual’s career, personal life, and even their ability to sleep well.
What causes neck pain?
Neck pain can be classified into two major categories:
major traumas and micro traumas. Basically, what this means is that the cause of neck pain is either due to a single specific traumatic event like a car crash or slip and fall, or it is due to several small injuries such as poor posture or an issue in a person’s biomechanics.
Neck pain has a variety of causes such as:
- Poor posture
- Improper occupational ergonomics
- Wrong sleeping position
- Weak musculature
- Whiplash from Car accidents
- Structural musculoskeletal issues
- Whiplash injuries
- Slips and falls
- Poor movement patterns
Did you know neck pain can lead to other conditions?
- Disc injuries
- Sprained ligaments
- Strained muscles
- Tight/spasm muscles
- Trigger points
- Spinal misalignments
How do we evaluate and diagnose neck pain?
We want to make sure we are treating your neck pain properly, just like how you wouldn’t put ice on a papercut or a band aid on a burn. There are many things that can cause neck pain with each one having a different approach to care. Once we determine the source of neck pain we can work towards alleviating pain and preventing it altogether. Some of the procedures we utilize to diagnose the neck pain include:
- A Review of the patient’s history to identify a cause or factors that led to the development of neck pain
- Palpation of the muscles and joints in the upper neck and back
- Postural Assessment of the head and neck
- Neurological tests
- Orthopedic tests to further diagnose the type of neck pain
- Digital X Rays or MRIs (if necessary, will be used to view the underlying musculoskeletal structures)
Not all neck pain is equal:
Everyone is different, and so is their neck pain. A custom tailored care plan is developed for each indavidual. We have found that a combination of different modalities has the best results with improving pain and healing. Some of the techniques that may be used include:
- Adjustments to decrease tension in the musculoskeletal and nervous system
- Lifestyle Recommendations
- IASTM to release scar tissue, promote blood circulation and healing
- Myofascial release to decrease muscular tension
- Corrective exercises to strengthen supportive muscles
- Laser therapy to help alleviate pain and improve tissue healing
Every person’s ability to heal is unique. As the treatment progresses, we monitor progress through re-evaluations to see how well your body is adapting and healing. Our goal is to get you out of pain and healing as quickly as possible so that you can get back to enjoying what you love.