Understanding Neck Pain & How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Our necks play an important role and are responsible for holding our heads up high. But the amount of strain that could be placed on your neck can really cause a lot of pain. Chronic neck pain can restrict your daily activities and affect your well being. But what could be causing this pain? There are actually a few different reasons that your neck could be hurting. Let's explore three possible causes of neck pain and how a skilled chiropractor may relieve such conditions.

Muscle Strains

Neck pain could be caused by a muscle strain. Muscle strains can happen from overuse, poor posture, trauma, such as whiplash, or even sudden movements. Most people spend too much time looking down at their devices. Such a habit can cause muscle strain leading to a stiff, achy neck.

One of the amazing chiropractors at BC + PT can help relieve neck pain from muscle strain in various ways. They can use chiropractic adjustments and spinal manipulation to enhance spinal function. When your spine is in the correct alignment, it helps reduce the extra stress on your musculature. Your chiropractor can also offer guidance on proper body mechanics, exercise, and ergonomics to prevent neck strain. Such measures can help alleviate inflammation, enhance neck mobility, and ease pain.

Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is a condition in which a spinal disc's inner gel-like substance protrudes through your disc's rigid exterior. You might experience neck pain if the herniated disc compresses the surrounding nerves. (We actually covered herniated discs in a previous blog… check it out here!)

Your chiropractor may apply gentle spinal manipulation methods to help realign your spine and lessen the pressure of the disc herniation based on the severity.  The BC + PT chiropractors will work with you and assess your injury to determine the best treatment options for you. 

Cervical Osteoarthritis (Neck Arthritis)

Neck pain can also be caused by cervical osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that affects your cervical spine's discs and joints. It often occurs because of age-related wear and tear or after an injury, such as whiplash.  This may cause pain, stiffness, and limited neck mobility.

Chiropractic care can help manage these symptoms. This may involve spinal manipulation to reduce stiffness and ultimately enhance joint mobility. It may also include therapeutic exercises focusing on strengthening your neck muscles and improving posture. 

Conclusion

Your neck pain can stem from many reasons, affecting your quality of life significantly. But the  chiropractic doctors at BC + PT can provide a non-invasive, comprehensive solution to treating neck pain. Besides offering symptom relief, the benefit of chiropractic care is that it focuses on prevention and overall health improvement without surgery or medication!

If you're looking for more information about chiropractic care, check out the frequently asked questions or some of our patient testimonials to see how we have been able to help others. When you are ready to schedule a first appointment, give us a call or fill out one of our contact forms to start your healing journey!