What causes neck pain?
Approximately one in three people suffer from neck pain at least once a year, and more women are affected than men. Most neck pain is acute and transient, resolving on its own within hours to weeks. Neck pain is considered to be chronic when it lasts for more than three months.
It's often difficult to pinpoint the source of neck pain because the neck is affected by muscular tension not only in the head and neck itself, but from the shoulders and arms.
Some of the more common causes of neck pain are:
- Weak muscles: without strong core muscles, as well as strong neck and shoulder muscles, the spine and neck lack adequate support
- Tense muscles: holding tension in the jaw, neck, shoulders, and chest
- Bone spurs: small, bony growths on the edges of the vertebrae that may appear with advancing age
- Injured or deteriorating spinal discs: trauma and age can lead to the disintegration of the soft elastic discs that keep the vertebrae from rubbing against one another
- Slipped or herniated disc: the displacement or rupture of a spinal disc
- Whiplash or other trauma: a sudden, forceful move or a blow to the head
What are the risk factors for neck pain?
In addition to the causes listed above, certain conditions or injuries may make you more susceptible to developing acute or chronic neck pain, including:
- Aging
- Female gender
- Having three or more children
- Poor health
- Psychological problems or stress
- History of lower back pain
- History of neck injury
How does a chiropractor treat neck pain?
Chiropractic treatments maximize spinal health so the body can begin to heal itself.
The ideal treatment for neck pain varies by individual. Muscles, ligaments, and tissues outside of the neck region may also be involved. During your consultation for neck pain, Dr. Brock examines your neck and spine, and takes the history of your neck pain.
The therapies Dr. Brock uses to balance your body and alleviate acute or chronic pain in your neck include traction to decompress the spine, ultrasound and percussion therapy to massage the muscles and tissues deeply, and chiropractic manipulation of the vertebrae and discs to achieve spinal alignment.
Dr. Brock also helps you stay pain-free with nutritional and lifestyle guidance, including exercises to strengthen your neck muscles.
