In an increasingly digital world, neck pain is an incredibly common problem. People of all ages are finding themselves with stiff, sore necks after long days spent craning over mobile phones, laptops, and computers. Neck pain can also be caused by jarring, impact events such as auto accidents, and slipping and falling. The good news is that there are a number of natural and effective ways to alleviate this discomfort. Although many conventional doctors prescribe pain medications and recommend bed rest for neck pain, chiropractors often suggest using movement. Strategies such as postural correction, targeted stretching, and limiting sedentary activities often promote both rapid and lasting relief.
In addition to valuing movement as a worthy tool for alleviating neck pain, chiropractors also believe that identifying the exact source of this discomfort is key to promoting healing. Thus, while there are many different ways to target and address this discomfort, it’s important to find the right one for you. With a needs-specific approach, you can avoid techniques and movements that exacerbate your symptoms, while engaging in activities that are guaranteed to provide the greatest range of benefits. Whether you play a full-contact sport, spent hours each day on your cellphone, or have recently been in a car crash, a chiropractor can devise a treatment plan that addresses your discomfort right where it starts. With this help, you can both alleviate the pain you’re currently feeling, and prevent it from recurring in the future.
Chiropractic Strategies for Alleviating Neck Pain
For most people, the solution to chronic and recurring neck pain is actually quite simple. For instance, if you visit with a chiropractor, you may be advised to change the way in which your work area is set up. Making sure that your computer screen is at eye-level will keep you from having to tip your head forward in order to see what you’re typing or researching. This simple change can remove a tremendous amount of pressure on your neck and your cervical spine, even as it prevents muscle spasms and other tension-related problems between your shoulder blades. If you’re a heavy mobile phone user, you may need to limit your screen time, and make a concerted effort to engage in fewer sedentary activities. The body is built to move. Holding it in stiff, awkward positions for prolonged periods of time can place an undue amount of strain on the neck, back, shoulders, and other body parts.
When neck pain is the result of jarring injury events, chiropractic therapies can be used to reduce any resulting swelling and inflammation. Chiropractors can use hot and cold therapy, ultrasound therapy, and even therapeutic massage to this end. These strategies:
- Promote better blood flow to the targeted area
- Improve oxygen delivery
- Naturally alleviate pain
- Expedite natural healing
In some instances, jarring, impact events disrupt the natural alignment of the spine. When this is the case, hands-on techniques such as spinal manipulation can restore alignment. In order to give each client a customized treatment plan, all clients undergo thorough examinations during their initial visits. Chiropractors also use diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic tools to learn more about the health and alignment of the spine, and the entire musculoskeletal system.
The human musculoskeletal system is comprised of many different parts that are meant to work seamlessly together. When one of these parts is injured or misaligned, other areas can suffer. As such, you may be surprised to discover that your neck pain is the result of issues relating to your shoulders, back, hips, or even your feet. This is one of many reasons why having neck pain professionally assessed in-person can be incredibly important. Small, surprising corrections in seemingly unrelated areas could have a tremendous impact on how your neck functions and feels overall.
One of the primary goals of chiropractic care is to support the body in its efforts to heal itself. This is why many chiropractic doctors take a whole-health approach to addressing neck problems and the discomfort that they cause. When working with a chiropractor, you may receive nutritional advice, tips for improving your sleep hygiene, and even a list of recommended stretching exercises among other things. By taking a multi-pronged approach to promoting wellness, and by tackling musculoskeletal issues directly at their source, chiropractors are frequently able to alleviate chronic pain, and without relying on invasive surgeries or potentially habit-forming pain medications. To find out more about how chiropractic care can help relieve your neck pain, call us at 205-637-1363 to schedule a consultation appointment.
