Neck pain is something no one likes to contend with. It is a common problem that can have a significant affect on the quality of your life. It may hamper your ability to get on with daily tasks or disrupt social/recreational activities. An estimated one-fifth of us will experience neck pain at any given time1.
What can cause neck pain?
Many everyday things may contribute to neck pain: prolonged computer use, watching TV, poor posture, stress…and the list goes on and on. Many of these potential causes have one thing in common: they all put added tension and stress on the neck. Muscles, joints, and nerves are all affected and can become irritated. This may lead to symptoms such as decreased movement, tight muscles, or pain and headaches, to name just a few.
What can I do for neck pain?
There are many types of neck pain and they are as varied as they come. Some people tend to ignore thesesymptoms of neck pain hoping they will disappear on their own. Others may take prescription or over-the-counter medication to mask the symptoms. Still others seek out natural and holistic approaches to restore their health. These may include Chiropractic care, massage therapy, naturopathy, and acupuncture to name a few.Chiropractic care has been shown to be one of the few treatments that can help relieve neck pain2.
How can Chiropractic help my neck pain?
Chiropractic care is a natural, hands-on healthcare discipline that seeks to find the underlying cause of your discomfort. Your neck is the most vulnerable part of your spine. Not only does it have to support a 10-12 lbs head and permit head movement, it must also allow the free flow of nerve impulses to the head, face, arms, and the rest of your body. These important jobs are what help keep you healthy and functioning everyday.
If the joints of your neck are out of alignment, this will compromise their ability to function. A Chiropractor will use an adjustment to help restore proper motion and position to the misaligned joints. This will help remove the tension on the surrounding tissues, allowing them to regain their normal functioning as well. Depending on your age and unique health concerns, repeated adjustments over several days or weeks may be needed. These may be combined with exercise recommendations, postural and nutritional advice, or ergonomic tips for your work space.
Your neck is only one ‘part’ of your whole spine so it is important to make sure the rest of your spine is in working order as well. Pain or dysfunction in one area may lead to over-use in another area as the body attempts to compensate. This is why a problem in one area of your spine can have far reaching effects on your overall health. You only have one spine, so it just makes sense to take care of it. Find a Toronto Chiropractor that can help you with your neck pain.
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- Canadian Chiropractic Association. “Chiropractic Care and Your Neck Pain” Toronto, 2013. Print.
- The Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders; published in the medical journal “Spine” February 15, 2008, Vol. 33, No. 4S
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