Neck Pain
Mechanical neck pain is an extremely common condition, with millions of people suffering from neck pain at some point in their lives.(1) When you consider the workload the neck must bear, it's hardly surprising – an adult's head can weigh between 3 to 5.5 kilograms!(2) Necks often become stiff, and movement can be restricted and painful. In some cases, this may cause nerve irritation, leading to arm pain, numbness, tingling sensations, and/or headaches.(3)
Chiropractors are specially trained to assess your neck problem using a range of techniques, including standard orthopaedic and neurological tests, to arrive at the correct diagnosis for you.(4) The chiropractor will also evaluate the function of the neck when treating other areas, such as the shoulder, as chiropractic care addresses the underlying cause of pain, not just the symptoms.(5,6)
Through gentle spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapies, and personalized exercise programs, chiropractic care can help restore proper neck mobility, alleviate muscle tension, and promote proper biomechanics, providing relief from neck pain and associated symptoms.(7,8)
References:
Fejer R, Kyvik KO, Hartvigsen J. The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature. Eur Spine J. 2006;15(6):834-848. doi:10.1007/s00586-004-0864-4
Netter FH. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 6th ed. Saunders; 2014.
Blanpied PR, Gross AR, Elliott JM, et al. Neck pain: revision 2017. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(7):A1-A83. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.0302
Gatterman MI. Chiropractic Management of Spine Related Disorders. 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.
Bronfort G, Haas M, Evans R, Leininger B, Triano J. Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report. Chiropr Osteopat. 2010;18:3. doi:10.1186/1746-1340-18-3
Clar C, Tsertsvadze A, Court R, Hundt GL, Clarke A, Sutcliffe P. Clinical effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic review and update of UK evidence report. Chiropr Man Therap. 2014;22(1):12. doi:10.1186/2045-709X-22-12
Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014;37(1):42-63. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.08.010
Wong JJ, Shearer HM, Mior S, et al. Are manual therapies, passive physical modalities, or acupuncture effective for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders or neck pain and associated disorders? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the OPTIMa collaboration. Spine J. 2016;16(12):1598-1630. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2015.08.024