Blog

Neck Pain and Physiotherapy

Neck pain can be a debilitating problem effecting 1 in 5 people, having a significant impact on their life. For most patients, a well thought out physiotherapy treatment plan can help them to live without pain. To be successful it is important to fully understand the cause of your neck pain and to build a plan of intervention to address, compensate for, and correct the underlaying causes.

Did you know that:

• 10-20% of people will experience neck pain in a given year.
• Office workers have a higher incidence of neck pain than the general population.
• Urban dwellers have more neck pain than people who live in rural communities.
• Most neck pain is recurrent, if left untreated it will last over a person’s entire life.
• Women are more likely to suffer from neck pain than men.
• Wealthier countries report higher incidences of neck pain.
• People between 35-49 years of age are most likely to experience neck pain.

PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSESSMENT OF NECK PAIN

A thorough assessment of neck pain means, discovering which factors are contributing to the patient’s problem. Here is a some of the possible  contributing factors.

• Poor posture (standing, sitting, sleeping)
• History of trauma
• Sedentary lifestyle and work environment
• History of repetitive neck or upper extremity motions
• Poor ergonomic set up (especially computer stations)
• Weak neck stabilizing musculature
• Poor shoulder blade position, strength or control
• A family history of neck pain
• Thoracic spine stiffness
• Central nervous system hypersensitivity
• Depression or anxiety

Once we understand the main factors leading to the development of a patient’s neck pain, we can do a complete examination including tests of the muscular and neurological systems as well as a physical examination of the joints. Physiotherapists also screen for more serious medical pathology and refer to the appropriate physicians if necessary. Only after we synthesize all of this information can we put together an excellent physiotherapy treatment plan.

PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR NECK PAIN

All patient’s are unique, hence have different contributing factors, each treatment plan will be specific to that individual’s problem. Research has shown that physiotherapy combining manual (hands on) therapy and exercise works better than either of those treatments alone. It is critical that your physiotherapist uses the right type of manual therapy, focused on the tissues and joints, coupled with an expertly prescribed exercise program. This is why at Wellness House we offer hands on treatments and do not utilize machines in our clinic.

Zack Song B.Sc., M.PT.

Registered Physiotherapist

Stats from: physiocanhelp.ca

How to Keep Your Spinal Discs Healthy

Bottom Line:

Spinal discs are the shock absorbers between the bones, or vertebrae, of your spine. The discs have a tough outer ring and a jelly-like centre. Their job is to help us move, bend, and twist while absorbing the weight of gravity. But, over time, our spinal discs can become degenerative.

Injuries, aging, and the effects of gravity all contribute to disc degeneration. The good news is that degenerative discs rarely cause pain unless they bulge or herniate, which places pressure on the spinal nerves. So how can you slow down the degenerative process and keep your discs healthy? Keep reading

…

Why it Matters:

Top research journals have recently discovered that movement and hydration are two important factors to keep your discs healthy. A well-hydrated disc can more easily adapt to movement and is less prone to injury. Many Chiropractic techniques are designed to “pump” your spinal discs. This motion helps bring nutrients into the disc and pushes out inflammation and waste. That is a fancy way to say that Chiropractic care can help keep your spinal discs healthy! Here are the key takeaways:

• Your spinal discs act as small shock absorbers between the bones of your spine.
• Movement helps bring nutrients into the disc and pushes out waste and inflammation, helping them stay healthy.
• Torn, herniated, or bulging discs can cause pain by irritating the nearby nerves, and Chiropractic care may be one of the best ways to heal and feel better!

Next Steps:

A combination of Chiropractic care and staying well-hydrated are two fundamental ways you can keep your spinal discs healthy and pain-free. But, don’t forget to stay active between your adjustments. And here is one more tip to slow down Father Time: daily exercise and stretching. Exercise and stretching will not only keep you fit and trim but can also potentially slow down the degenerative changes of your spine keeping you healthy and active for many years to come!

References:

Cited from Evidence Based Chiropractor 2018

The Effect of Sustained Compression on Oxygen Metabolic Transport in the Intervertebral Disc Decreases with Degenerative Changes. Computational Biology 2011

Running exercise strengthens the intervertebral disc. Scientific Reports 2017