Neck pain is the second most common reason why people will come and see a chiropractor.

Our modern working life sees us spending hours in cars or bending over desks or workstations, which can put a great strain on our necks.

Problems in the neck can be the source of pain in the upper back, shoulders or arms. We can commonly see patients presenting with associated headaches and tingling or pain in the arms. These are common symptoms.

Causes of Neck Pain

Our neck is made up of seven bones (vertebrae) which are each separated by a disc. We have a huge range of movement and flexibility through our neck. If any of the joints, muscles or nerves are not working correctly this can cause discomfort as the muscles will tighten to protect the neck.

There are a number of common causes of pain in the neck including:

Wear and Tear

Osteoarthritis of the spine occurs in most of us simply because of the strain of years of weight bearing from every day normal activities. If you have worked in environments where there is more pressure over the spine, you may be more suceptible. Arthritis is part of the ageing process and can lead to stiffness and reduced mobiity.

Chiropractic treatment can be extremely effective for wear and tear symptoms. It is advisable to seek treatment early to reduce the effect of arthritis.

Trauma

The commonest type of trauma you may have heard of is ‘whiplash’. This is a sudden movement of the head forwards and backwards then forwards again. This is commonly associated with road traffic accidents but can occur in any injury where this sudden movement can occur (it can be seen in work related injuries and sports injuries).

Whiplash can be extremely debilitating so it is worth consulting Ben, our Chiropractor, early on for an evaluation.

Repetitive Strain

Our modern lifestyles cause us to be at risk of overusing or straining our necks. Long period of sitting, typing, using computers or driving can cause strain of the neck soft tissue. Muscles, tendons, nerves or ligaments which are overused are not allowed time to heal and problems can escalate.

You may experience pain in the neck, head or tingling in the arms. These are all common symptoms that chropractic care can help alleviate.

Get in Touch

Neck pains can be short lived but if you are troubled by persistent, progressive symptoms do get in touch and our Chiropractor Ben will be happy to advise.