Neck pain
Neck pain can be severely debilitating condition and can make daily activities difficult. This condition is specifically difficult to treat within the current medical field. Most treatment options include physical therapy as the first method of managing neck pain. Having an experienced physical therapist diagnose and treat your neck pain can save you unnecessary pain medication, spinal injections, surgeries, and expensive imaging. Check out the list below to see commonly treated neck pain diagnoses with physical therapy.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Degenerative Disc Disease
Sounds like a scary diagnosis when you read it, but it is part of the normal process in an aging spine. The older you get the higher your chances for (DDD). As the discs age they tend to lose the amount of water content in them. The discs dry up making them more susceptible to injury. The ligaments in the spine thicken and the joints become more stiff as we age.
Herniated or Bulging Disc
A bulging or herniated disc can happen in any age group. This is usually a result of a combined bending/twisting motion. The discs are made of thick connective tissue material but can be injured with enough force. Motor vehicle accidents, falls, lifting weights, and prolonged sitting can all weaken the discs resulting in a "bulge".
Whiplash
When the head goes through a fast starting and stopping motion such as in a car accident, a whiplash injury is common in the neck. Stretching of the connective tissue, ligaments, tendons, and muscles of the neck can cause long-term pain, headaches, and disability.
How Will Physical Therapy Help My Neck Pain?
Once the physical therapist determines the cause for your neck pain then a specialized treatment plan will be developed. The physical therapist will use various manual techniques including spinal manipulations and therapeutic exercises to improve your pain and function. Dry needling has proven effective in treatment of cervical neck pain and headaches. Once your pain is controlled and your range of motion is restored then your therapist can begin helping you strengthen areas that will keep your neck healthy!
