A pain in the neck?We may be able to help!
At any given time, 10%-20% of people report neck problems. More than half of the population have experienced neck pain in the last 6 months!
Factors that may put you at risk of neck pain include:
- Aging
- Depression, anxiety or poor coping skills
- Sleep disorders
- Previous trauma to the neck (especially whiplash associated injuries)
- Occupational factors such as sitting at a desk or in front of a computer all day
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Musculoskeletal imbalances resulting in poor posture
It has also been found that prevalence is higher in women than in men.
As physiotherapists we assess and treat many different cases. The more common conditions include:
- A PINCHED NERVE
This is technically called a radiculopathy. It is caused by nerve compression in the cervical spine (neck) resulting in neck pain with radiating arm pain or numbness. Movement in the affected arm may also be weaker than normal. It usually only affects one arm but may affect both. There is known to be increased prevalence between 40 and 49 years of age. A recent study done showed that at two years, outcome produced by physiotherapy was very similar to surgery.
- WHIPLASH
Whiplash injuries are usually caused by side-impact or rear-impact motor vehicle accidents. This acceleration-deceleration motion results in bony or soft tissue injuries, known as whiplash associated disorders. While your first thought would be to pop on a soft collar, research has shown that they may cause prolonged symptoms and future neck problems. Early physiotherapy intervention has proven to produce much better results through manual therapy and an individualized exercise program.
- CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE
Of all the chronic headaches, research found that 14%-18% of those are cervicogenic, which means they come from your neck. While many individuals may brush them off as a tension headache, there may in fact be several structures in the neck that could be the cause. Physiotherapy treatment has been proven to successfully alleviate symptoms as well as prevent future neck issues or headaches.
- CERVICAL OSTEOARTHRITIS
This is a rather complex degenerative disorder complicated by inflammatory reactions. As expected, prevalence increase with age, especially if you are 50 years or older. While many may presume there is not much you can do for it, we can! Physiotherapy treatment aids in reducing stiffness & pain, improving joint mobility and most importantly preventing further deterioration.
So don’t let your neck pain inhibit you – a physiotherapist can do a full individual assessment and treatment specific to your underlying problem.
If you would like to know more about various neck conditions, follow our monthly blog for the next few months.
