Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common complaint and can be attributed to a number of conditions.
Neck pain can also cause loss of motion that holds you back from living your life. The good news is that it is usually caused by joint and muscle problems, not a serious disease. A variety of physical therapy treatments can decrease neck pain.
We tailor our neck pain program to your specific needs. Treatment could include:
- Patient education
- Development of home treatment program
- Manual therapy to normalize your range of motion
- Hands-on therapy and (soft tissue mobilization) to work on muscle tone
- Exercises to help normalize movement and increase strength
- Mobilization, a hands-on technique to move the neck joints and muscles to calm pain and spasms
- Manipulation, a single, brief, quick, small movement to specific spots on your body
A study conducted in 2013 strongly suggests that an integrated approach can help. Neck exercises combined with mobilization, and possibly manipulation, may be the best plan to reduce neck pain soon after it develops. We will suggest the proper exercises and show you exactly how to perform them-a crucial step to ensure that you do not make any injury worse. The ultimate goal, beyond making your neck feel better, is to increase strength and flexibility.
Exercise and mobilization can also help ensure that pain and stiffness do not recur in your neck. To that end, we will ask you questions about your posture and ergonomics – how you hold your neck and body while you walk, work, watch television, work on hobbies and even sleep. We can offer seemingly small recommendations that will make a huge difference in how you feel going forward.
Many other modalities can help your neck feel better, including heat, ice or electrical stimulation. In more difficult cases, we may turn to mechanical or manual traction.
One size does not fit all when it comes to neck stiffness and pain, so contact us for a customized, integrated exercise plan that can help you move more easily and feel more like yourself again.