Neck pain can make you immobile from the shoulder up. We rely on our necks to look around and not being able to move it because of pain and stiffness can greatly change your daily physical functioning. For you to get relief from neck problem, you need the help of a chiropractor. Chiropractors are familiar with neck cases and the first thing they do is identify the probable causes of neck problem.

Neck pain varies and this will depend on the causes of neck pain. The pain can be mild, severe, burning, numbing, and the pain can extend all the way down to the arms. The bottom line is, a neck problem is uncomfortable and it should be treated immediately. One of the main causes is the daily stress a person experiences. Getting through daily activities and tasks takes its toll on the body. Stress causes muscle tension and it can lead to tightening and contracting of muscles. Pain is felt when muscles contract. Sitting too long, staring at the computer and sleeping in the wrong position are causes too. Moreover, your lifestyle is a huge factor too. Poor posture, weak abdominal muscles and obesity disrupts the balance in the spine and can cause the neck to bend abnormally.

Aging is another cause of neck pain because it brings about different disorders like degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. Degenerative disc disease makes the discs dry and the discs lose its elasticity, flexibility and its ability to absorb shock. Over time, a herniated disc or bulging disc can occur. A herniated disc puts pressure on the nerve roots, which can cause neck problem. Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder when there is deterioration in the cartilage. Cartilage functions to prevent two bones from rubbing together. The body naturally forms bone spurs as an immediate reaction and these bone spurs puts pressure on the nerves causing neck pain. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of small nerve passageways, which can compress the spinal nerve roots. Spinal stenosis causes neck problem, arm pain and shoulder pain.

Injuries and accidents are common causes of neck pain too. Whiplash occurs when there is a forced movement on the neck that will cause the neck to suddenly rebound in the opposite direction. Whiplash comes from the whipping motion that the neck experiences. A natural reaction of the muscles is to contract, as this will prevent further injury to the neck. Again, when the muscle contracts, neck pain and stiffness will occur. For head injuries obtained from a car accident, there is a high possibility of experiencing neck pain too.

Chiropractic care recognizes all these causes of neck pain and develops a treatment plan suited for the patient. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation techniques to align the spine and remove any pressure on the nerve roots. The chiropractor can use the flexion-distraction technique where a pumping action is performed on the spinal discs rather than direct force. Soft tissue therapy can be used to treat muscle tension. Manual joint stretching is used to reduce neck pain symptoms. Massage therapy will help in relaxing the muscles.

Sue Mulcahey, DC, LLC  Phone: (785) 832-9355 Fax: (785) 832-9356
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