While there are many causes of neck pain, chiropractic care can help you find neck pain relief and help your body heal.
Tired of that nagging pain in the neck? Want to improve your posture and avoid the dreaded “tech neck?” Hoping to avoid invasive neck surgeries and other procedures?
A natural approach to pain relief with the help of chiropractic may be your best solution.
Neck pain significantly affects at least half of us at some point in our lives. If it is putting the brakes on your ability to move through daily life with ease, it’s time to find – and fix – the root of the problem. Chiropractic care offers one of the most effective and holistic approaches to healing the neck and preventing future pain because of its ability to address that main cause.
So, let’s discover what really causes neck pain and learn how a chiropractic adjustment could help you find relief.
Structure & Function: Why is the Neck So Susceptible to Pain?
The neck, or cervical spine, is really a marvel of engineering. Your neck is designed for strength and flexibility, allowing for full-functioning support of the head. However, this delicate balance can also make the neck vulnerable to pain and injury.
Let’s take a closer look at the neck to understand why pain develops and how we can prevent it.
Anatomy of the Neck
The cervical spine is made up of seven small vertebrae, beginning at the base of the skull and extending down to the thoracic spine. These vertebrae cover and protect the spinal cord while also supporting the weight of the head and allowing for a wide range of motion.
The neck also has several muscles, ligaments, and nerves working in harmony to give us the range of movement and stability we need. Muscles like the sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis muscles in the neck create motion, while others like the scalenes and transversospinalis muscles stabilize and maintain posture. Ligaments connect bones to each other to provide structural support, while nerves send signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Neck Structure and Pain
The anatomy of the neck is designed to balance two seemingly contradictory functions: providing strength to support the head and offering a wide range of motion for head and neck. This delicate balance is precisely what makes the neck susceptible to pain and injury. Let’s break down why the anatomy of the neck lends itself to pain issues:
> Heavy Head Weight
The neck supports the weight of the head, which averages about 10 to 12 pounds – about the weight of a bowling ball! The vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments in the neck therefore need to constantly work at maintaining this weight in steady balance in various positions which can lead to strain and fatigue over time.
> Strain from Movement
The flexibility of our cervical spine allows for a wide range of movements, from tilting and nodding to rotating and bending. This flexibility, while necessary for living a normal daily life, also leaves the neck vulnerable to overextension, twisting injuries, and strain. The neck’s wide range of motion also makes it particularly susceptible to injury from sudden movements, such as whiplash in a car accident.
> Weak Vertebrae and Discs
The cervical spine is made up of seven vertebrae (C1-C7) separated by intervertebral discs. These discs act as shock absorbers but can degenerate or herniate over time. This leads to compression of the nerves and pain in the neck.
> Misalignments and Imbalances
Many different nerves run through the cervical spine, connecting the brain to the rest of the body. If these nerves are compressed or irritated by misaligned vertebrae, herniated discs, or imbalanced muscles, it can result in pain, numbness, or weakness not just in the neck, but in other parts of the body as well.
> Constant Tension
The muscles in the neck are always active, even when you’re at rest. They work to stabilize the head and maintain posture. Overuse, poor posture, or sudden movements can stress these muscles and lead to strains, spasms, and chronic neck pain.
> Poor Posture
Prolonged periods of poor posture (think bending your head forward at your desk or drooping it to read your phone) places excess stress on the cervical spine. In fact, for every inch your neck juts forward, an extra ten pounds of force is put on your spine! This extra weight can alter the natural curvature of the neck, leading to increased strain on the muscles and ligaments.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Now that we’ve looked at some anatomical reasons we get neck pain, let’s dive into the other causes of neck pain.
Neck pain is so common because it can arise from a variety of different reasons, all based on your lifestyle, work habits, age, and other health factors. Being aware of the root cause of your neck pain is the first step in managing and avoiding neck pain effectively.
1) Muscular Strain and Tension
Factors like poor posture, sleep posture, muscle imbalances, and overuse (from repetitive movements) are a common way we develop neck pain.
2) Degenerative Disc Disease
Wear and tear on the cervical spine is a natural part of getting older. However, if left untreated, it can result in cervical spondylosis or degenerative disc disease and neck pain.
3) Herniated Disc and Pinched Nerve
Herniated discs occur when a disc in the cervical spine becomes damaged or displaced, and then presses on a nerve and causes pain.
4) Whiplash Injury
Any sudden force, such as in a car accident or even rollercoaster ride, can cause the neck to whip back and forth. This whiplash often damages the soft tissues in the neck and can trigger chronic pain if left unmanaged.
5) Lifestyle and Environmental Factors
How you live, work, and play can have a direct impact on your posture and neck health. Let’s take a look at the most common lifestyle issues that lead to neck pain:
> Prolonged Sitting and Sedentary Lifestyles
Extended periods of sitting can lead to poor posture and strain on the cervical spine. To combat this, try working regular movement breaks and stretches into your daily schedule to keep your neck aligned and relieve tension.
> Occupational Hazards and Ergonomics
Does your job require a lot of repetitive motions or being in awkward positions? If so, this can increase the risk of neck strain. Ergonomic solutions, such as adjusting your workstation to support a more natural posture, are key to reducing the strain and improving your neck health.
> Stress and Psychological Factors
Many people hold stress in their muscles, especially the neck, shoulders, and upper back. Stress tightens these muscles, which causes stiffness and pain. To combat stress-related neck pain, use relaxation techniques, gentle exercises like yoga, and chiropractic care and massage to relax the neck and prevent pain.
> Technology Use and Screen Time
The forward head posture – or “tech neck” – we so easily slump into while using our devices is one of the most common strains on the neck. Keep screens at eye level, take regular breaks, and practice neck exercises to avoid this type of neck strain.
Getting to the root cause of your neck pain isn’t always straightforward; it could be a combination of these causes or something different entirely. That’s why working with a chiropractor is a smart step forward for anyone with neck pain. A well-trained chiropractor near you can help you identify the underlying issues leading to neck pain, then help you address them naturally.
How Chiropractic Can Help with Neck Pain
Chiropractic care is one of the most effective natural therapies for managing and preventing neck pain. That’s because chiropractic not only releases tension and eases pain – it also works to resolve the underlying imbalances and misalignments that are causing the pain in the first place.
So, how does chiropractic work for neck pain?
> Improved Alignment and Balance
Think of chiropractic adjustments as a tune-up for your spine. They realign everything to its rightful place, significantly cutting down the stress your neck muscles have to endure. And less strain means a happier neck.
> Reduced Nerve Compression
Misalignments in the spine create roadblocks for your nerves, adding extra pressure and even cutting off proper nervous system communication. Chiropractic care removes these blocks by realigning the spine and easing pressure on the nerves, which in turn diminishes pain and improves your body’s overall function.
> Relaxed Muscles
Tension or trigger points in your muscle are common causes of neck pain. Chiropractors use special techniques and therapies to help the muscles unwind.
> Increased Neck Mobility
Regular visits to a chiropractor keep your neck moving smoothly and like a well-oiled machine. With an increased overall range of motion, you’re less likely to have stiffness build up to the point of pain.
Chiropractic for Prevention and Neck Health Maintenance
Chiropractors aren’t just your go-to experts for easing that nagging neck pain; they’re also your partners in keeping it at bay. With a holistic view of health and wellness, they navigate you through a series of prevention practices designed to boost your neck’s health and keep future aches away. Here’s how:
> Enhance Neck Health With Ergonomics
Need help adjusting your workplace or daily routines to support your neck’s natural posture? Your AlignLife chiropractor can help you determine what changes need to be made so you can reduce strain on the neck.
> Personalized Exercise and Neck Stretching Routines
Strengthening and stretching the neck and surrounding muscles is essential for maintaining flexibility and reducing the risk of further injury. Your chiropractor will share simple neck stretches and exercises like these, designed to tackle your biggest neck pain triggers.
> Reliable Stress Management Techniques
Implementing relaxation and stress-relief practices into your day can significantly reduce muscle tension and stiffness in the neck – not to mention, make you feel mentally balanced and calm all day long, too! With help from your chiropractor, you’ll experiment and find the stress relief activities that work best for you.
> Proper Posture Awareness
Practicing good posture is essential if you want to fix your neck pain. But knowing what good posture is and feels like can be tricky. Your chiropractor can help you settle into the right posture from head to toe, teach you posture awareness tricks, and track your posture progress over time.
> Regular Spine Check-Ups
Just as you might go to the doctor for check-ups on your general health, your chiropractor is a great way to check up on your spinal health. Regular spine checks offer early detection and treatment of spinal issues before they escalate into a chronic pain situation.
> Strategic Supplement Recommendations
Beyond the treatment room, chiropractors can help you keep neck pain at bay from home with a smart supplement plan. They can recommend the best supplements to help you combat any nutritional deficiencies or specific joint health needs.
For instance, one key supplement our chiropractors recommend to nearly anyone suffering from neck pain or any other joint condition is Aceva Joint Rescue. This formula has been clinically proven to help relieve joint pain and protect the joints, mainly by repairing and building cartilage and reducing oxidative damage. A daily dose can help keep your joints mobile, flexible, and comfortable.
Leave Neck Pain in the Past with Chiropractic Care
Neck pain has many different causes, and until you pinpoint what is triggering your pain, you’ll never get the lasting relief you deserve.
That’s why we’ve seen such promising results with our patients at AlignLife. Chiropractic care works by identifying the key culprit, then using gentle spinal manipulations, muscle relaxation techniques, and other therapies and lifestyle recommendations to help you stop your pain and keep it at bay.
As with any health condition, prevention is the best medicine for neck pain! Whether you are currently struggling with unrelenting neck pain or want to protect your neck against issues like arthritis, degeneration, and muscle strains, the team at AlignLife is here to help.
Talk with your AlignLife chiropractor today to schedule a visit and learn more ways to prevent and manage your neck pain naturally.
