Neck Pain

Physiotherapy for Neck Pain
 

What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck pain can be caused by a traumatic event where the neck is jolted or more commonly it is something that creeps up gradually over time, often due to poor posture when sitting or working. The head is a relatively heavy thing - 5kgs on average - so poor posture puts a lot of strain on the neck and forces the muscles to work harder to hold the head up. Over time this can create issues as joints become overloaded and stiff, muscles become fatigued and weaker, and eventually something gives with some resulting neck pain. The neck is also a very common area for pinched nerves, although the pain from this is more often felt in the shoulder and arm. Head, neck and jaw pain is one of the more common areas we treat at The Physiotherapy Place.

Neck Anatomy

The neck, or cervical spine, consists of 7 vertebrae at the top of the spine along with several ligaments and muscles that support it and attach it to the head. The specific anatomy of the neck allows for both good stability and mobility:

  • stability - required in order to support the weight of the head on top of it

  • mobility - required in order to move our heads in all of the directions that we need to be able to look around us.

The solid bony structure protects the spinal cord as it descends from the brain and the nerves that exit the spinal cord at the neck give us muscle power and sensation in the upper body. Any of the aforementioned structures can cause pain in the neck if they become damaged or overstressed.

Can Neck Pain Be A Sign Of Something Serious?

Rarely is neck pain a symptom of a more serious problem. If you have pins and needles, numbness, or shooting pains into your shoulder or arm then you should seek medical attention to get the issue treated properly.

How Can I Relieve Pain In My Neck?

A good starting point to treat neck pain is:

  • put a hot water bottle on the area for 10-15 mins

  • gently turn your head left and right and up and down within the limits of your pain

  • focus on having good upright posture with your shoulders back and chin tucked in to take the pressure off the joints and muscles.

If the pain isn’t improving, or if it is spreading into the shoulder then it is likely that a joint is stuck or a nerve is pinched and in this case a physio can help to resolve the problem.

What Will A Physiotherapist Do?

A physio will diagnose what is causing the neck pain and why it has happened. This will determine treatment and will also let you know what must be done in the future to prevent a similar problem occurring again. I always use a hands-on approach for neck problems as this will quickly get the neck moving better and muscles relaxed. Depending on the specific issue a combination of manual therapy, dry needling or Gunn IMS, and specific exercises will resolve your pain and you will be advised on what you need to do at home in order to prevent future flare-ups.

You can read more about neck pain and find our top tips on what you can do to help it in our free e-book here.