Neck Pain
Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the
base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae.
Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight
of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While
the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every
direction, this flexibility makes the neck very
susceptible to pain and injury.
The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to
biomechanics. Activities and events that affect cervical
biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive
movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or
head, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck
pain can be very bothersome, and it can have a variety
of causes.
Here are some of the most
typical causes of neck pain
Injury and Accidents: A sudden forced movement of
the head or neck in any direction and the resulting
“rebound” in the opposite direction is known as
whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the
surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head.
Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating
muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness.
Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to
the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles,
and nerve roots. Car accidents are the most common cause
of whiplash.
Growing Older: Degenerative disorders such as
osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc
disease directly affect the spine.
- Osteoarthritis, a common joint disorder, causes
progressive deterioration of cartilage. The body
reacts by forming bone spurs that affect joint
motion.
- Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve
passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing
and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck,
shoulder, and arm pain, as well as numbness, when
these nerves are unable to function normally.
- Degenerative disc disease can cause reduction in
the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs.
Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate, causing
tingling, numbness, and pain that runs into the arm.
Daily Life: Poor posture, obesity, and weak
abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing
the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and
emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and
contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Postural
stress can contribute to chronic neck pain with symptoms
extending into the upper back and the arms.
Chiropractic Care of Neck Pain
During your visit, Dr. Conboy will perform exams to
locate the source of your pain and will ask you
questions about your current symptoms and remedies you
may have already tried. For example:
- When did the pain start?
- What have you done for your neck pain?
- Does the pain radiate or travel to other parts
of your body?
- Does anything reduce the pain or make it worse?
Dr. Conboy will also do physical and neurological
exams. In the physical exam, Dr. Conboy will observe
your posture, range of motion, and physical condition,
noting movement that causes pain. Dr. Conboy will feel
your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel
for muscle spasm. A check of your shoulder area is also
in order. During the neurological exam, Dr. Conboy will
test your reflexes, muscle strength, other nerve
changes, and pain spread.
In some instances, Dr. Conboy might order tests to help
diagnose your condition. An x-ray can show narrowed disc
space, fractures, bone spurs, or arthritis. A
computerized axial tomography scan (a CT or CAT scan) or
a magnetic resonance imaging test (an MRI) can show
bulging discs and herniations. If nerve damage is
suspected, Dr. Conboy may order a special test called
electromyography (an EMG) to measure how quickly your
nerves respond.
Chiropractors are conservative care doctors; their scope
of practice does not include the use of drugs or
surgery. If Dr. Conboy diagnoses a condition outside of
this conservative scope, such as a neck fracture or an
indication of an organic disease, he will refer you to
the appropriate medical physician or specialist. He may
also ask for permission to inform your family physician
of the care you are receiving to ensure that your
chiropractic care and medical care are properly
coordinated.
Neck Adjustments
A neck adjustment (also known as a cervical
manipulation) is a precise procedure applied to the
joints of the neck, usually by hand. A neck adjustment
works to improve the mobility of the spine and to
restore range of motion; it can also increase movement
of the adjoining muscles. Patients typically notice an
improved ability to turn and tilt the head, and a
reduction of pain, soreness, and stiffness.
Of course, Dr. Conboy will develop a program of care
that may combine more than one type of treatment,
depending on your personal needs. In addition to
manipulation, the treatment plan may include
mobilization, massage or rehabilitative exercises, or
something else.
Research Supporting Chiropractic Care
One of the most recent reviews of scientific
literature found evidence that patients with chronic
neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported
significant improvement following chiropractic spinal
manipulation.
As part of the literature review, published in the
March/April 2007 issue of the Journal of
Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the
researchers reviewed nine previously published trials
and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with
chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level
improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial
group was reported as having remained unchanged, and all
groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks
post-treatment.
Source: The American Chiropractic
Association |