Don’t let a pain in the neck get you down - literally and figuratively. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and has become a serious problem in this day and age. Between sitting at a desk, looking down at a phone, and other daily activities, 20-70% of adults will experience neck pain during their lifetime.
Common Causes for Neck Pain
Neck pain being as vague as it is, can be caused by a number of different factors. Your neck is made up of your vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, and muscles that can all contribute to pain. Here’s a list of some common causes for neck pain:
Muscle Tension or Strain. Can stem from poor posture, awkward sleeping positions, or overuse of the neck, known as repetitive strain injury (RSI).
Injury. Such as a car accident, sports injury, or just simply falling.
Diseases. About 10% of neck pain is associated with illness - such as arthritis or cancer.
Degenerative Discs. Herniated or Bulging
Surgery.
Axial Neck Pain vs. Cervical Radiculopathy vs. Cervical Myelopathy
Axial Neck Pain is pain confined to the cervical, occipital, or posterior scapular areas. Often associated with severe headaches.
Cervical Radiculopathy typically extends distally down the upper extremity and is a result of a spinal nerve root compression. This can cause pain and numbness, muscle weakness, and impaired deep tendon reflexes.
Cervical Myelopathy is caused by degenerative changes in the cervical spine that leads to spinal cord compression. Patients with cervical myelopathy frequently present with weakness, loss of balance, and decreased fine motor skills. These symptoms increase from extending the neck.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Sharp Pain
Soreness
Muscle Tightness/Spasms
Headaches
Decreased Mobility in the Neck
Radicular Pain
5 Exercises to Decrease Pain
Scapular Squeeze. Standing up tall with your shoulders back, squeeze your shoulder blades together and release.
2. Chin Tucks. Extending your lower cervical and flexing your upper cervical, bring your chin back toward your neck and then extend forward.
3. Thoracic Spine Extension. With a foam roll right below your shoulders, sit up tall and extend your upper body back.
4. Standing or Seated Row. With a band, tie a knot at the end and wedge between a closed door. Keeping your arms parallel, bring your shoulders back, retracting the shoulder blades.
5. Upper Trap Lavator Scapulae Stretch. Standing up tall, hold your head to each side (for an extra stretch, place your other hand behind your back). With your head to the side, look down toward your armpit to stretch your Lavator Scapulae.
At Staats Physical Therapy, we provide a hands-on approach to treating neck pain. From the start, we’ll perform an in-depth initial evaluation combined with special testing and review of any imaging taken before your appointment. Through these components, we have the necessary information to provide an individualized treatment program.
To schedule an appointment, visit our “Schedule A Visit” tab or call us at (732) 920-0880.