Neck pain is something that affects people every day, whether they are suffering from acute or chronic neck pain, they wish to find a treatment or simply avoid it. The neck consists of seven vertebrae and is supported by many muscles and ligaments which serve as a bridge between the head and the upper body, allowing us to move our heads. Neck pain occurs when the joints, muscles, or ligaments in the neck are irritated or inflamed.
It can be caused by something simple in your daily activities that can strain your neck like the gnashing of the teeth, reading in bed, or spending too much time on the computer. The good news is that neck pain due to these common causes can easily be treated. Some neck pain and neck stiffness; however, may be the result of extensive injury requiring chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Adjustment Techniques
Chiropractic neck adjustments, known as manipulation of the cervical vertebrae, help loosen stiff joints and muscles between the cervical vertebrae. It is a non-surgical treatment option that can help reduce neck pain and its associated symptoms. Some patients may not be able to tolerate traditional chiropractic adjustments, which are sometimes based on past experience. It is common to use a combination of these methods for chiropractic treatment of the cervical spine. For example, if a previous injury has led to certain types of spinal instability, cervical manipulation may be appropriate.
A gentler form of chiropractic adjustment can be applied to patients who cannot relax or simply do not like it. This method involves a slow, low-speed technique that is performed to improve joint movement. It is a gentle, non-relapsing stretch designed to reduce pain when the movement of the cervical segment is restricted. Below is a list of techniques and manipulations of the spine that your chiropractor can use as part of your treatment plan for neck pain relief.
Cervical Mobilization and Cervical Manual Traction
The patient usually sits head down, and the chiropractor pulls the neck up and stretches the cervical spine, varying the angle depending on comfort (bending forward or stretching backward) and finding the right angle to reduce tightness most efficiently. Oscillating movements with the hands are also frequently used to mobilize the cervical spine. This technique combines mobilization by alternating between the two and doing both simultaneously.
Cervical Drop Techniques
The patient lies on a special table, and the head-drop-piece is lifted into a closed, locked position. The chiropractor then places his hands and fingers on the spinal cord segment for the necessary adjustment. The aim is to reduce fixation and movement restrictions of the cervical vertebra, which are supported by a special table. The gentle chiropractic technique typically does not involve any bending, stretching, or pressure on the spinal cord. There is usually no rotation or twisting of the head or neck, which is often used in traditional chiropractic adjustments. An increasing downward pressure is applied, and the patient's neck is stretched when the drop-piece of the table drops.
Flexion-Distraction Technique
One of the less common techniques is flexion distraction, an adaptation used to treat a variety of different types of back and neck pain, including herniated discs. This technique is a way to adapt to most back or neck pain caused by luminescence, a type of neck injury similar to a spinal cord injury. Flexion and deflection technique is a gentle manual method of manipulation of the spine, in which the intervertebral disc is pumped instead of using direct force. Through targeted spinal manipulation, the gentle push technique restores joint movement and limits the power that your chiropractor can exert when pushing down your spine.
Most chiropractors take multiple approaches and often adapt several techniques to the needs and preferences of the patient. Some patients prefer to twist the neck joints in a more traditional way and may prefer one technique to another as they gain experience and understand the treatment. Your chiropractor is trained in evaluating the unique needs of your condition and knows if these techniques work for you.
Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments for Neck Pain
Chiropractic treatment is recommended for neck pain and headaches in general. For relieving tension, spinal adjustments can be used.
If you have neck pain or increased pain from a previous neck operation, chiropractic adjustments may be right for you. If you feel pain in the cervical spine, you should see your chiropractor to make a chiropractic adjustment as adjusting the spine with this non-invasive technique can significantly reduce your back and neck pain.
You can treat your neck pain with non-invasive techniques such as neck correction to ensure that you receive the treatment that is needed for long-term, permanent and medication-free neck pain relief. Although most people seek treatment for pain in the back, neck or other parts of the body, this kind of drug-free approach can help improve your overall health and function. Studies have proven these positive results, and many patients have reported significant improvement after chiropractic adjustments. Let's discuss other benefits of this treatment:
Improves Mobility
Chiropractic adjustment can help to restore movement in restricted areas and reduce the pain you feel in your neck. By adjusting the cervical spine, you improve the mobility of the cervical spine, restore the range of motion, increase the flexibility of adjacent muscles, and improve posture. This is achieved by addressing issues surrounding the spinal cord as well as the muscles and tendons in the neck and back.
Reduces the Risk of Other Diseases
Chiropractic adjustments can also reduce inflammation, which can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic diseases and improve the function of affected joints, leading to an overall stronger nervous system that can fight off diseases.
Improves Overall Condition
Chiropractic care can be a great way to relieve the swelling and discomfort caused by neck pain. Chiropractic adjustments give the body the opportunity to better deal with discomfort in the neck, allowing patients with chronic neck pain to show positive results of chiropractic treatment, such as a reduction in pain, stiffness and swelling and an increase in energy levels.
What to Expect During Your Appointment?
This first step in the diagnostic process is to tell your chiropractor about the pain you're feeling in your neck. Providing more details about your condition, checking your medical history, and ordering imaging tests can all help your chiropractor understand the mechanics of your body to diagnose the exact cause of your neck pain.
This step in the diagnostic process effectively lets your chiropractor know all about the pain that you're experiencing, which helps him create a treatment plan that is tailored to you. You may also be asked for a CT scan of the neck, an MRI scan or other imaging test, depending on your specific conditions to help rule out other possible causes and find the best treatment.
Understanding your specific condition enables chiropractors to develop the right treatment methods for your neck pain or back pain, ensuring that they provide all patients with the best possible treatment for their condition. An experienced chiropractor should only perform a chiropractic neck adjustment after a thorough assessment and diagnosis. When you make an appointment at a chiropractic clinic, your spine will be examined, and a tailor-made treatment will be carried out to provide you with the pain relief you need for your back and neck.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
Chiropractors can treat neck pain in various ways, such as through manual therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care. A chiropractor does not prescribe medications for neck pain as part of his treatment, but he can use a combination of various therapies and modalities. Treatment plans may include neck exercises that you perform on your own, and will depend on the diagnosis.
The treatments mentioned are one of the best alternative treatments for neck injuries or neck pain. Chiropractors also advise their patients on nutrition, good posture and stress management - all things that together contribute to good health. If you suffer from neck pain, your chiropractor can perform a technique called cervical spine manipulation. Most neck pain is associated with age – with wear and tear of the joints and misalignment of the spine. A chiropractor can review possible neck injuries that often occur due to concussions and make cervical spine adjustments to relieve neck pain or a headache.
Chiropractors use their hands to manipulate the neck and put the vertebrae back in place to combat the effects of posture and other factors. This can reduce pain caused by pinched nerves, such as in the back of the head and neck, sometimes causing neck stiffness. Discomfort caused by pinched nerves can spread to the shoulders and arms. A chiropractor can help relieve pain by repositioning bones, relaxing muscles and reducing pressure on nerves. Before you decide on an approach to relieve your pain, remember that your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination to diagnose the specific cause of the neck pain to ensure it is the right treatment for you.
There are many therapeutic exercises available to you to help address issues in the neck and upper back. Whether you are doing therapeutic exercises alone or a physical therapist is manually helping you stretch your muscles and joints, these exercises can greatly improve the range of motion in your neck and prevent your neck pain from getting worse. In addition to treating the spine as a whole, chiropractors also treat other parts of the body such as the head, neck, shoulders and back. They also assess the spine for other problems in the neck that may also affect the spinal cord or other parts of the body such as hips, knees or ankles.
Other Treatments for Neck Pain Relief
Other therapies can also be used to relieve neck pain, such as acupuncture, manual therapy or other therapies. Read on to learn more about other chiropractic solutions that can help you find neck pain relief. Your chiropractor can use any of these techniques to manipulate the spine, and can be used as part of a treatment plan for your neck pain.
Manual therapy involves manual joint stretching to help reduce pain in the neck.
Trigger point therapy is used to relieve tense and painful joints and muscles, and can help to relax tense muscles.
Ultrasound sends sound waves to muscles to relieve stiffness and pain in the neck.
Therapeutic exercises can also be recommended to help improve the entire range of movements in the neck and prevent neck pain from progressing.
Home Exercises coupled with a chiropractic treatment plan, continuous stretching and home exercises can keep neck pain at bay.
The treatments listed above are just some of the treatments that chiropractors have for neck injuries. Your actual treatment plan depends on your diagnosis, but your chiropractor should explain your treatment options thoroughly, to guide you through your journey to recovery.
See a Chiropractor
When deciding which approach to take for your neck pain, your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination to diagnose the specific cause of your neck pain. You can learn about nutrition, stress management and lifestyle goals and additionally treat neck pain. See your local chiropractor at Natural Care Chiropractic and visit our office today. Talk to a licensed chiropractor and learn more on how chiropractic care can help those who suffer from neck pain.
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