Can a Chiropractor Really Fix My Neck Pain?
Neck pain is a common problem for many people, whether caused by poor posture, spending hours on a handheld device, your sport, or an old injury. When the neck is in pain, it can affect a person's ability to work, sleep, and enjoy daily activities.
Because the spine and the musculoskeletal system offer connections throughout the body, when one area is suffering from dysfunction, other areas can be affected and feel the negative symptoms. For instance, you may feel neck pain due to an injury in the upper back, a headache condition, or even mental stress.
Fortunately, chiropractic care can effectively end neck pain at the source, not masking the discomfort but curing the condition. Chiropractors take a comprehensive approach to care, meaning they assess the body as a whole to determine where injuries or imbalances are, then implement the precise healing plan.
This post talks about:
Why we get neck pain
How to support your neck
Chiropractic care to treat neck pain
And more
If you’re ready to get a healthy neck and improve your overall well-being, you’ll want to read on!
Why Does My Neck Hurt?
Neck discomforts have been common for decades. Those who sit at a desk all day, those who stand on their feet all day, those who overuse the neck’s soft tissues due to their sport- anyone can feel neck pain, no matter their lifestyle.
In today’s technology-driven world, the neck is under even more demand. With consistent device use, gaming and VR consoles, working remotely from your sofa rather than a correctly set up workstation, even streaming services that have taken the place of physical activity have all led to many new neck imbalances.
The neck’s healthy tissues and cervical spine (the portion of the spine in the neck) offer several conveniences. Many of our everyday movements rely on the neck’s full function. From making the bed to turning the head while driving to sitting on the sofa and watching TV, the neck provides its services. With these pressures come myriad opportunities for injury.
Common conditions that cause neck pain include:
Disc herniation
Muscle strain
Regular wear and tear
Nerve compression or impingement
Soft tissue inflammation
Sports injury
Arthritis
So, how can we help our necks get and stay healthy?
Tips to Support Neck Health and Strength at Home
Whether we’re sedentary or active, our necks often work to support us, and with that comes an obligation from us to support our necks in return.
Ways to help keep your neck balanced and fully functioning include:
Get some movement in- physical activity is necessary for a strong, healthy body; don’t sit at work all day then go home and sit on a sofa all night; get some exercise in
Stretch- neck rotations and stretching improve flexibility and reduce stiffness, offering healthy circulation to the neck
Take a break from the device- whether you’re working on a computer or scrolling through social media, give your neck some time off several times throughout the day
Remove the stress- mental stress and anxiety can cause numerous physical imbalances, be sure you get plenty of rest and me-time so you can handle stressful situations more effectively
Speaking of me-time- massages, yoga, reading, meditation, tea time, anything that supports your mental and emotional well-being is important to your physical health
Use supportive pillows- if your neck is weak, be sure the pillow you sleep on is supporting you and get a U-shaped pillow to use while working, cooking, relaxing, etc.
Perfect your posture- be aware of how you sit, stand, and move, so you’re not putting undue pressure on the neck’s tissues and spine
Perfect your workstation setup- you likely spend the vast majority of your time at your workstation, set it up correctly and consider an ergonomic chair for better support
While these solutions can’t guarantee you’ll never have neck pain, they can reduce its likelihood, frequency, and intensity.
Chiropractic Solutions to Help End Neck Pain
If you have chronic or ongoing neck discomforts, chiropractic care is an excellent way to get the right treatment for your injury. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to manipulate the soft tissues, spine, and other joints in order to relieve pain, remove restrictions, improve range of motion, and nurture safe healing.
The neck’s intricate structure can easily become misaligned or injured, but with natural, effective chiropractic care, you can non-invasively find comfort fast.
Common chiropractic methods to treat neck pain include:
Chiropractic adjustments
Soft tissue therapies
rehabilitative exercises
Massage
Trigger point therapy
Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapies
In most cases, your local chiropractor will provide numerous modalities to your wellness plan and individualised guidance and education based on your unique needs and goals.
Resilient Heath for Neck Pain Solutions that Work
If you're suffering from neck pain, chiropractic care is a safe, efficient way to find relief and learn how to maintain your results. At YOUR Mile End chiropractic clinic, we help every body thrive. Together, let’s find a treatment plan based on your condition and symptoms, optimize your health, and improve your body’s function.
Contact us to book your appointment today, so you can live pain-free and actively.