The neck is an important part of our body. Also known as the “cervical spine”, it begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. The cervical spine supports the full weight of our head, an average 12-14 pounds and allows you to move your head in every direction. The high level of flexibility can occasionally make the neck very susceptible to minor and major pain or injury, here are some things you must know to prevent major injuries or stop your neck gradually getting hurt or being injured.
Continue reading this article to learn more about Neck Pain and how our treatment can help you.
How to relieve neck pain?
Are you all familiar with that crick you get when you cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder, or the strain and pain you feel after working at your computer for a long period of time? Or maybe you’ve noticed that too much work without sleep or relaxation can also cause neck pain. There are many reasons why you feel neck pain.
We’ll look at ways to help relieve neck pain and stiff neck, as well as some methods on how to prevent the pain.
- Apply ice for 20 minutes a few times a day to help relieve neck pain. Heat may be soothing but may any make inflammation worse.
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may give short term relief, but should not be used in the long term.
- Stretching, whilst being careful to avoid sudden movements. Stretching slowly and gently is very important as it can help relieve the pain and stiffness but must be done carefully as too many movements can cause more pain, inflammation and a more serious injury.
- A massage from a trained practitioner may help any muscle tightness that could be contributing to the pain.
- Get enough sleep. You might also find that adjusting your sleep environment such as getting a firmer mattress, using a neck pillow, sleeping only on your back or side, relaxing before going to sleep, and not using smartphones or other electronic devices before sleep can help you change your sleep environment easily.
- Reducing stress can help treat and prevent stiffness. Hanging out with your friends, travelling, playing music, watching movies or doing things you love can help you reduce your stress.
If the pain is still there. Try to consider and consult your nearest chiropractic care. Contact Ridgeway Health and Wellness now!
How does a Chiropractor treat Neck Pain?
People experiencing neck pain often turn to chiropractic care for help especially if they cannot treat the pain themselves. Chiropractors work on providing relief from pain by addressing the cause of then pain, throbs, twinges and aches, not just the pain itself.
Your professional chiropractor will evaluate your spine as a whole because other regions of the neck, mid-back and low back may be affected and injured as well. Chiropractors will treat the “whole person” not only your symptoms. They may also educate you on the dos and don’ts, nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle goals to treat your neck pain.
The chiropractor will do a thorough examination, and potentially an X-Ray, to diagnose the root cause of your neck pain, before deciding which approach to take and try for your neck pain.
Your Professional chiropractor can use a combination of techniques in spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and other techniques as part of your treatment plan for neck pain.
Below is the combination of manipulation techniques your professional chiropractor may use.
- The Flexion-distraction technique is a gentle, hands-on spinal manipulation that involves a pumping action on the intervertebral disc instead of direct force.
- Instrument-assisted manipulation uses a hand-held instrument called an activator to allow your chiropractor to apply force without thrusting into the spine.
- Specific spinal manipulation helps you to restore joint movement using a gentle thrusting technique.
The combination of techniques above are simply examples of possible chiropractic treatments for neck pain; your actual treatment plan will depend on the result of your diagnosis. Your professional chiropractor should thoroughly explain your treatment options so that you know what will happen.
Are Chiropractic Methods Safe for Neck Pain?
The Answer is YES! Chiropractic is safe for your neck pain.
Licensed and professional chiropractors will safely administer spinal adjustments for the neck. Professional Chiropractic Care can provide you with a safe, non-addictive, non-invasive, alternative to prescription medications or over-the-counter pain medications, which are usually prescribed to injured patients to help them manage the swelling and overnight pain.
Chiropractic adjustments reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints, which can lessen the inflammation and improve the function of both the affected nervous system and joint. This will give our body the ability to properly manage the discomfort in our neck.
Get in touch with Ridgeway Health and Wellness today!
Ridgeway Health and Wellness is here to support as many people as possible in their quest for optimal health and to educate them about Chiropractic and encourage them to educate others. Provide lifelong Chiropractic wellness care to our patients and their families. Enable the body to express its maximum genetic potential through the elimination of the vertebral subluxation complex.
Patients for over 100 years have experienced a fuller expression of health and life through regular Chiropractic care. We do not believe that health is just the result of effectively treating a symptom. To be healthy you should eat nutritious food every day, take regular exercise and have a nervous system (which enables us to adapt to every physical, emotional and chemical stress we experience) free of interference and so as to express your full human potential. We believe that this is the future of health care and we are proud to be leaders in this approach.
Our commitment to providing bespoke chiropractic care, advising and supporting clients to achieve a healthier lifestyle and delivering a first-class customer care service has been the driving force behind developing Ridgeway Health and Wellness.
For more information on managing your neck pain, you may visit www.ridgewayhealthandwellness.co.uk today!