Also known as the cervical spine, your neck starts at the base of your skull. It supports the full weight of your head and contains seven vertebrae. It can move the head, which weighs 12 pounds on average, in different directions, which can make it susceptible to injury and pain. This is partly due to biomechanics.
Many events and activities can affect neck biomechanics. These include repetitive movement, extended sitting, blows to the head or body, falls, accidents, normal wear and tear, and aging. Neck pain can be very uncomfortable and bothersome, and it can result from various causes.
Accidents and Injury: An unexpected movement of the neck or head in any direction and the subsequent rebound in the reverse direction is what doctors call whiplash. It injures the neck and its surrounding and supporting tissues. The abrupt whipping motion causes neck muscles to contract and tighten. This leads to muscle fatigue, pain, and stiffness. In serious cases, it can cause injury to the neck ligaments, disks, intervertebral joints, nerve roots, and muscles.
Age: Certain degenerative disorders such as degenerative disk disease, spinal stenosis, and osteoarthritis directly affect the spine. This often leads to neck pain.
Daily Life: Weak abdominal muscles, obesity, and poor posture often disrupt spinal balance, leading to neck pain. Emotional tension and stress can also cause neck muscles to contract and tighten, resulting in stiffness and pain. Postural stress can lead to chronic neck pain, as well.
Osteoarthritis: This is a common joint disorder that leads to gradual deterioration of cartilage. When this happens, your body will react by forming bone spurs, which can affect neck motion, leading to pain.
Degenerative Disk Disease: This condition can lead to a reduction in the height and elasticity of intervertebral disks. Eventually, a disk may herniate or bulge, causing numbness, tingling, and pain.
Spinal Stenosis: This condition leads to the narrowing of the nerve passageways in the vertebrae, thereby trapping and compressing nerve roots. This can lead to arm, shoulder, and neck pain, in addition to numbness.
Chiropractic care is a great way to relieve and manage the swelling and discomfort resulting from neck pain. There is nothing invasive or addictive about the treatment. It is a safe alternative to prescription medication.
Doctors of chiropractic deliver a form of treatment known as a chiropractic adjustment. This type of therapy reduces joint misalignments and restrictions in the spine and other joints. The aim is to improve function and reduce inflammation of both the nervous system and affected joints. By improving your spinal health, nervous system function, and increasing joint mobility, your body will have the ability to manage any pain or discomfort in your neck.
A trained chiropractor uses his or her hands or a special instrument to perform chiropractic adjustments. He or she applies a sudden and controlled force to a spinal joint to improve your body’s physical function. Some of the benefits of chiropractic care for neck pain include:
Improved lifestyle and activity
Reduced discomfort and pain
Improved flexibility
Better range of motion
Decreased inflammation
To learn more about chiropractic care for neck pain, contact SIMS Chiropractic Center in Laredo, TX at (956) 729-7730 to schedule an appointment.