Do you dread having to look up, down, or to one side because of the pain you know you’ll experience? Do you struggle for hours to find a sleeping position that doesn’t torture your neck? Has your neck never been the same since that scary car crash or sports accident? Neck pain can make ordinary actions and tasks a major chore, ruining your quality of life. If you’re sick of that pain in the neck and you’re looking for non-surgical methods of ridding yourself of it, physical therapy can very likely turn your life around.
Neck pain is a commonly experienced pain among people. You may feel significant discomfort, especially if the pain stretches from your neck to your shoulders. This pain can become more severe if you overlook this. In some extreme cases, surgery becomes the only way to treat this.
But thankfully, it is possible to treat this pain with the help of physical therapy. To get the best assistance and quick relief, all you need is to visit our Austin Physical Therapy clinics today if you are experiencing excruciating pain in your neck. Just by trying out this natural practice, you would be able to get back to your normal and pain-free life
Our Huntsville and Brownsboro / Hampton Cove, AL physical therapy clinic is dedicated to providing you with the help you need to relieve your neck pain. Make an appointment with Austin Physical Therapy today to get started on the path toward recovery!
Role Of Physical therapy In Relieving Neck Pain
Physical therapy is one of the exceptional methods to get rid of neck pain. At Austin Physical Therapy, we are involved in offering you the best assistance. Once you visit our clinic for treatment, our licensed therapists will conduct an initial physical evaluation to analyze your neck’s range of motion.
They will also find any limitations you may have due to the pain. Based on that, they will create a customized plan of treatment that aids in your recovery. We may include “hands-on” or manual therapy in your treatment plan.
Our therapists will provide you with targeted exercises to enhance, strengthen, and build the tissues and muscles in your neck. They will also focus on improving your posture to help recover your neck muscles. It also helps in preventing the recurrence of the injury in the future.
Why Does My Neck Hurt?
Nearly one-third of Americans suffer from neck pain every year, especially individuals in the 30-to-50 age bracket. Neck pain takes a variety of forms, sometimes in combination with other uncomfortable symptoms and limitations. The most common area in which people feel neck pain is the top rear of the neck, near the base of the skull. You may also experience pain radiating to your arms or shoulders. This pain may be either acute (resolving as an underlying cause is resolved) or chronic (continuing for several months or years, either constantly or in recurring bouts).
Injuries to tissues and bone are the most common reason for neck pain, however, certain degenerative conditions can also lead to neck pain.
Where does neck pain come from? In many cases, the cause is a violent one. A traumatic accident can do acute damage to the complex structures and delicate tissues that make up the neck. But even more frequently, neck pain develops gradually in connection with an underlying chronic issue.
Likewise, some common conditions that can give you pain in your neck include:
Bulging or herniated discs
Discs that protrude from the spinal column can press against the nerve roots of the cervical spine.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the facet joints (which articulate the neck vertebrae) can cause chronic pain.
Compressed Nerves in the Neck
The nerves that branch out from your spinal cord can become squeezed if you have a herniated disc in your neck or a constriction of the foramen (the place where the nerves exit the spine). Nerve pain can radiate from the neck into the hands and fingers in some circumstances, which is known as “radiculopathy.”
Injuries to the Neck
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that result in neck pain and is typically sustained by an automobile accident or high-impact sports collision. Whiplash is a “strain” injury, causing the head to whip rapidly back and forth, thus affecting the soft tissues in the back of the neck.
Degenerative Joint Conditions
Conditions such as osteoarthritis can reduce the cartilage between the vertebrae in the neck. This also results in neck pain. Like any other joint in your body, the neck joints can deteriorate with age, causing pain.
Neck Muscle Strains
Even something as simple as sitting at your desk all day with your neck craned toward the computer screen can cause your neck muscles to become strained by overuse.
Illness
Certain diseases and ailments can result in neck pain, such as rheumatoid cancer, arthritis, cervical spondylosis, spinal stenosis, and meningitis.
Poor posture
A stooped posture, such as the “text neck” caused by always gazing downward at your smartphone, can strain the neck muscles.
Repetitive motion injuries
If your job or sport causes you to crane or turn your head over and over, you may develop a repetitive motion injury such as tendonitis.
Whiplash
A violent impact can throw your head around with enough force to tear your neck muscles, sprain ligaments, herniated discs, and pinched nerves.
Less commonly, neck pain can also be associated with diseases ranging from cancer to meningitis. Even lifestyle choices such as smoking or pillow choice can raise your neck pain risk.
There are many more reasons why neck pain may occur, so slow down before you start searching on Google! That is a sure way to only stress yourself out. The best way to be 100% sure of why you are experiencing neck pain is to request an appointment with our physical therapist in Huntsville and Brownsboro / Hampton Cove, AL.
How Physical Therapy Helps You Find Relief From Neck Pain
Physical therapy is an ideal solution for many neck pain sufferers. It provides more lasting relief than medications without introducing the risks and recuperation time of surgery. Our physical therapist understands how the various structures of the neck should work together, and what kinds of symptoms indicate specific disorders or injuries. Once our physical therapist has examined your cervical spine, range of motion, symptoms (including neurological symptoms referred to the upper extremities), and medical history, we can create a physical therapy regimen to help you tame that nagging discomfort. Common physical therapy options for treating neck pain include:
Exercises
In spite of the familiar image of the neck pain patient spending all his time in a neck brace, exercises to mobilize the neck can do a world of good as long as they’re prescribed wisely and performed carefully. These exercises can limber your neck muscles and give them the strength they need to support your head properly.
Physiotherapy techniques
Our physical therapist may recommend heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, massage therapy, and other techniques to ease inflammation, relieve neck spasms, and speed healing.
Lifestyle advice
Our physical therapist can recommend changes to your work environment, sleep position, pillow, everyday posture, and any other alterations to help you keep your neck comfortable.
Want to learn more? Be sure to check out our blog post today to learn how we can help!
Visit Our Clinic To Get The Best Treatment
So, don’t let your neck pain control your life any longer by relying on physical therapy. Contact our Huntsville and Brownsboro / Hampton Cove, AL physical therapy clinic to discuss your condition with our licensed therapists today.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!