How Physical Therapy Can Help You Get Rid of That Pain in the Neck
Do you often have a crick in your neck after a long day at work? Do you find it difficult to turn your neck to look over your shoulder? If so, you aren’t alone. Neck pain is a common impairment, and of those who experience it, around 37% have persistent pain lasting as long as a year! Fortunately, the physical therapists at Peak Performance Physical Therapy in Lansing, Okemos, Dewitt, Mason, or Grand Rapids, MI are here to help you find relief.
As common as neck pain is, persistent or chronic neck pain can interfere with our daily activities, and drug-based pain management isn’t a great long-term solution. However, physical therapy provides some fantastic non-pharmaceutical options for neck pain relief; in some cases, it may even be able to eliminate the pain at its source.
If you want to find out more about the many ways the team of experts at Peak Performance Physical Therapy can treat your neck pain, schedule an appointment today!
What caused my neck pain?
There are many different reasons why someone might experience neck pain, but most commonly, the pain is due to muscle strains, joint issues, or injury.
For many people, lifestyle factors lead to neck pain. If you spend long hours working at your computer or scrolling through a smartphone, it can have an adverse effect on the muscles of your neck and shoulders. Slouching and poor posture can lead to problems as well.
Other times, neck pain is simply part of the natural process of aging. As we get older, the discs protecting the vertebrae in our spine start to wear down, leading to pain or a diminished range of motion.
Finally, injury is an important factor to consider. Automobile accidents often lead to whiplash injuries, in which the neck head is sharply jerked backward, leading to pain in the neck. Certain sports, such as football or hockey, are also associated with a higher incidence of neck pain.
What treatment options are available to help with neck pain?
In many cases, neck pain will go away within a few weeks. However, if you’re struggling with persistent, recurring, or even chronic neck pain, a visit with the physical therapists at Peak Performance Physical Therapy may be exactly what you need.
Our physical therapists might use manual therapy to treat your neck pain, which involves manipulating the muscles or joints of the affected area. Manual therapy is crucial in determining the source of neck pain and has also been proven to reduce the pain.
Neck pain can also be treated with exercises designed to improve posture and strengthen the muscles of the upper back, which provide support to the neck. Our physical therapists will work with you to develop a program of simple, effective exercises designed to improve your neck’s function. In most cases, this program will be simple and easy enough for you to do at home.
Finally, our physical therapists can also talk with you about prevention strategies to ensure your neck pain relief remains permanent. These strategies might include suggestions for how to set up your computer or work desk more ergonomically, simple stretches you can do during the day, or just a reminder to take a break from your desk now and then!
Depending on the nature of your neck pain, our team of experts might also suggest more holistic treatment options, including acupuncture or electrical stimulation.
What to expect from your physical therapy appointment at Peak Performance Physical Therapy
The first thing our team of experts will do when you come in for your appointment is to conduct a thorough physical examination to help determine the cause of your neck pain, plus the specific treatment options that will work for you. For example, suppose your neck pain is accompanied by headaches or dizziness. In that case, our team of experts will ensure that all symptoms are treated effectively–not just the pain itself.
We’ll then work with you directly to develop a personalized treatment plan. Most likely, your plan will consist of a blend of different treatments, including manual therapy, exercises, and other modalities that will benefit you.
Reach out to Peak Performance Physical Therapy for your appointment today!
You deserve to live a life free from neck pain. If your neck pain lingers for more than a few weeks, schedule an appointment with us today. We’ll set you on the road to a pain-free life in no time!
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8314077/
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Non-Specific_Neck_Pain_-_the_Case_for_Specific_TreatmentÂ