Neck pain is a common condition that can arise from various causes, including injuries, poor posture, emotional stress, and age-related wear and tear. It not only affects the neck itself but can also lead to symptoms such as headaches, and pain, tingling, or numbness in the upper extremities.
Injuries like whiplash from car accidents, sports-related incidents, or falls can stretch and damage the muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues in the neck, leading to pain and limited motion. Poor posture, whether from weak musculature or repetitive strain, can cause muscular fatigue and joint compression, resulting in discomfort.
Emotional stress can exacerbate neck pain by causing muscle tension, while the natural degeneration of spinal discs and joints with age can lead to stiffness and nerve impingement. Effective treatment and prevention strategies include maintaining proper posture, controlling swelling and pain, encouraging pain-free movement, relaxation and stretching, strengthening exercises, and adopting preventive measures to avoid re-injury.
What Causes Neck Pain?
As mentioned above, there are many causes behind neck pain. These include the following:
- Poor Posture – When you practice good posture and you either sit or you stand in a way that causes the head, the shoulders, the back, and the hips in a balanced manner, stress is placed on the joints and neck pain may develop.
- Muscle Strains – If you have a muscle strain – which is a small tear that develop within the muscle tissue – you may experience neck pain.
- Infection – If an infection invades the area of the cervical spine, it could lead to the onset of neck pain.
- Arthritis – This condition leads to pain and inflammation within the joints, and this includes the neck. As inflammation affects the areas in and around the neck, neck pain may develop.
- Nerve Compression – Irritation and/or the pinching of the roots of the nerves within the spinal column may cause neck pain varying in severity from mild to severe.
- Herniated Disc – If a disk in the neck area pushes down upon a nerve or herniates, it could result in the onset of neck pain.
- Spinal Stenosis – the abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal and/or the neural foramen may place pressure on the nerve roots and spinal cord. When this happens, it could cause neck pain.
- Spondylarthrosis – When the vertebral columns experiences degeneration, neck pain may occur.
In addition to the above-listed issues, the following may also result in the development of neck pain:
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Whiplash
- Neoplasm
- Muscle Pain
- Neck Sprains
- Exercises
- Stretches
- Sleeping in Inappropriate Positions
- Injuries
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Meningitis
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- Degenerative Diseases
- Vertebrae Abnormalities
- Birth Defects
- Tumors
- Cancer
What are the Recommended Treatments for Neck Pain?
Recommended treatments for neck pain include:
Immediate Actions:
- Stop all strenuous activities if pain develops suddenly or is related to direct trauma.
- Apply ice wrapped in a towel to the injury for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours for the first 48 to 72 hours to reduce swelling and pain.
- After 72 hours, apply warm, moist heat through a shower or soaked towels for 20 minutes every 3-4 hours.
Medications:
- Take Tylenol®, Aleve®, or Ibuprofen as directed on the package and with food.
General Advice:
- Avoid activities that significantly increase neck pain.
- Return to normal daily activities as tolerable, avoiding anything that significantly increases neck pain.
- Rest and gentle stretching to help muscles relax.
- Exercise with caution during recovery to prevent re-injury.
When to See a Healthcare Provider:
- If neck pain or headache is caused by direct trauma to the head or if the headache is severe.
- If there is weakness or sensation loss in the arms that doesn’t resolve.
- If pain prevents normal activities for longer than a few days.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help with Neck Pain?
If you suffer from neck pain, it is recommended that you seek the assistance of a physical therapist. These professionals are capable of helping with neck pain in that they utilize a variety of manual therapy and exercises to target the strength, range of motion, education on maintaining the proper posture, and stretches to aid in alleviating tension in the muscles. In essence, these professionals help in reducing pain in the neck and improving function in this area of the body.
Simple Strategies for Everyday Life to Reduce Neck Pain
- Use Ice (Not Heat) To Stop Pain: Apply an ice pack for 10 minutes every hour when feeling achy or painful.
- Sleep With One Soft Pillow: Reduces stretching and tension in the neck, helping to alleviate headaches and shoulder tension.
- Avoid Reading for More Than 20 Minutes in Bed: Prevents increased muscle tension and potential headaches.
- Choose Sensible Footwear: Wear well-fitted, cushioned shoes to reduce pressure and stress on the spine.
- Avoid Carrying Your Backpack or Bag on One Arm: Distribute weight evenly to prevent neck and shoulder tension.
- Ensure Laptop Screen Is Set at The Correct Height: Prevents looking downwards and reduces pressure on the spine.
- Get Moving with Physical Therapy: Visit a physiotherapist to soothe tight muscles, loosen stiff joints, and strengthen your body.
Bonus Tips:
- Daily Lower Back Exercise Rituals: Strengthen lower back muscles to support neck and shoulder posture.
- Avoid High Heels: Reduces pressure on the spine and shoulders.
- Do Regular Pilates: Improves muscle tone and control, reducing tension and pain.
- Stretch Yourself at The Beginning and End of Every Day: Incorporate Yoga to increase flexibility and reduce muscle tightness.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink water regularly to prevent muscle aches and fatigue.
- Avoid Sleeping on Your Stomach: Prevents twisting and improper positioning of the neck and shoulders.
What is a Physical Therapist?
A physical therapist is a licensed practitioner that examines, makes a diagnosis, and directly treats a movement-based dysfunction of the body. These professionals specialize in assisting people with injuries, diseases, illnesses. PTs help in preventing loss of motion, strength, and range of motion. In addition, these specialists place an emphasis on promoting wellness. The physical therapist uses an assortment of therapeutic-based exercises, various modalities, different types of assistive devices, educate patients, and evidence-based types of research to assist their patients.
What Qualifications are Required to Become a Physical Therapist?
To become a physical therapist, the following qualifications are required:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Completion of a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program.
- Passing the DPT licensure exam.
Some DPT programs offer freshman entry, allowing students to enter directly from high school.
What are the Main Functions of a Physical Therapist?
The main functions of a physical therapist include:
- Patient Care Experience: Assimilating knowledge, acquiring skills, and developing judgment through patient care to make independent and appropriate decisions in practice.
- Collaboration: Working with other health care professionals, the patient, and the patient’s family.
- Assessment and Management of Movement Disorders: Assisting patients in moving safely and performing motor function tests and treatments.
- Communication: Effectively communicating with patients, families, physicians, and other health care team members, including recognizing non-verbal communication and making timely, accurate patient assessments.
- Ethical Practice: Understanding and practicing ethical physical therapy, demonstrating compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, responsibility, and tolerance.
- Adaptability: Functioning effectively under stress and adapting to rapidly changing environments.
These functions ensure that physical therapists are competent and caring professionals capable of benefiting their patients.
What Will a PT Do for Neck Pain?
If you see a physical therapist to get help with neck pain, you will find that the professional works to improve the strength of the neck. They will encourage you to engage in exercises that work out the neck and all of the muscles in and around the neck. Not only does this help in strengthening the neck, but it also aids in increasing the overall flexibility of the neck. In most instances, it will take a physical therapist anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to resolve your issues with pain in the neck. This is a small-time frame given the severity of the pain that you may experience. It does not matter if you have an infection, an underlying medical condition, or an injury. In as little as 6 weeks, a physical therapist can help you with your neck.
Contact Us
If you have neck pain, we here at Back to Motion are standing by to assist you. We offer a wide range of services and treatments. Examples include vestibular therapy, neck pain specific services, and more. We currently have two locations in the State of Colorado – one in Denver, and one in Wheat Ridge. If you suffer from vertigo with the neck pain, we can assist in helping you with that, too! Our number one goal is to get you back to normal. It is our goal to help you get back to your life and suffer less from pain. You may contact us today to learn more about our services, what we treat, and even to set up an appointment with one of our trained physical therapists. Simply contact us today at: https://backtomotion.net/