NECK PAIN

There are many causes for neck pain. Injuries, such as car accidents for falls the obvious examples.  However, most people with neck pain can't identify a specific injury. 

Just like it was not the last mile that you drove that caused your car to need repair, the accumulation of stresses from many sources can result in chronic, sometimes debilitating, neck pain. Acute (short term) and chronic (long term) mechanical neck pain can be effectively treated once the cause(s) is/are identified and the appropriate measures are implemented. 
Some of the more common causes of neck pain include:

  • · incomplete recovery from past injuries
  • · presence of cervical spine misalignments
  • · whiplash-type injuries
  • · improper workstation setup
  • · poor posture (such as abnormal carriage of the head on the neck)
  • · prolonged sitting
  • · excessive repetitive neck motions
  • · improper telephone techniques
  • · presence of cervical spine misalignments
  • · excessive mental stress
  • · physical inactivity
  • · poor diet and nutritional practices
  • · prolonged use of non-ergonomically designed equipment 
     

Treatment of Neck Pain

Doctors of chiropractic have long known that the most successful treatments involve the identification and correction of the underlying causes of the condition. That's why chiropractic care has been so successful in the correction of back and neck conditions and is the number one choice for back and neck care.

Identifying The Cause

The first step in treating neck pain is to determine what has and is causing the neck pain. Once the specific causes and contributing factors are identified, a successful treatment plan can be structured to eliminate pain and achieve the goals of the patient.

The Treatment

Chiropractic treatments for neck pain may corporate the use of a number of therapies, all of which are gentle, safe, natural and noninvasive. However, the true power of chiropractic care is found in the chiropractic adjustment - the most effective and essential treatment employed by the chiropractor. The reason? Quite simply, the chiropractic adjustment corrects the joint dysfunction that is blocking the restoration of normal function (and health) to the problem area. 

Most individuals experiencing neck pain have either

  • · suffered an acute accident such as whiplash, where the structural integrity of the neck has been altered and tissue damage has occurred, or
  • · been exposed to long periods of adverse neck and spinal stresses most commonly from bad or improper postural habits and techniques

In both cases, the spinal components are almost always structurally misaligned and therefore function inefficiently or not at all. In other words, the vertebrae and their supporting structures have lost their "optimal" positioning and their movements are occurring in an inappropriate and stressful manner. The only effective and long-term way to correct structural misalignment and restore function is to realign the spinal segments. This is the job of the chiropractor, who performs very specific, gentle adjustments to the involved areas.

When choosing a doctor of chiropractic:

  • Be sure the chiropractor has attended an accredited chiropractic college.
  • Make sure the chiropractor is licensed to practice in your state. After graduating from an accredited chiropractic college, doctors of chiropractic must pass rigorous state and national board exams before they can practice.
  • Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers. The best referrals often come from satisfied patients.
  • Talk to the doctor. The chiropractor should be willing to answer your questions and should talk freely with you about your concerns and course of treatment.