Neck pain affects more and more people every year. And the causes are generally related to our posture, work, and the awkward way we sleep. Do you often suffer from neck pain, which turns into headaches and decreases productivity at work? Have you looked for different ways to get rid of the pain, but nothing seems to work? Then, a suitable solution for your needs would be to seek the professional expertise of a chiropractor for neck pain. Why a chiropractor? Non-invasive approaches.
Chiropractors take a holistic approach to healthcare and specialise in spinal adjustment procedures, which can lead to significant pain and inflammation reduction in the long term. Moreover, a professional chiropractor could set up an exercise routine and use a combination of spinal stretches and therapeutic procedures to decrease stiffness and nerve weakness. The specialists you call could perform a massage for neck pain, identify if you suffer from a misalignment of the upper vertebrae, and develop a non-invasive treatment plan that can be combined with traditional physical therapy.
What Techniques Can Be Used by Chiropractors?
For starters, the chiropractic specialist you call will use spinal adjustments to alter the alignment of your vertebrae and, therefore, reduce pain and inflammation. How does it work? In short, the chiropractor will use their hands to apply firm but controlled pressure to your spine and return it to a natural position. Because of our lifestyle or injuries, the vertebrae can slip from their natural position, leading over time to pressure on nearby cervical tissue and pinching of the nerves.
The goal of spinal adjustments is for the patient to experience improved mobility and pain relief. However, spinal manipulation, especially in the neck area, is not a joke. Therefore, it should only be performed by a licensed chiropractor for neck pain who graduated from a chiropractor college accredited by the CBA. Suppose the patient’s condition does not allow for a more forceful approach. In that case, the chiropractor can use mobilisation, which involves moving the neck in circular motions until the muscles relax. Mobilisation, combined with a massage for neck pain, can work wonders for cases caused by poor posture, which primarily necessitates muscle relaxation.
For compressed cervical discs, the chiropractor for neck pain may turn to stretching and traction exercises, which relieve pressure on adjacent nerves, or to soft tissue massages assisted by ultrasound therapy, which aims to reduce inflammation caused by cervical pain conditions. Neck pain is common in Australia, affecting one in three people. Moreover, it is one of the most common causes of ER visits. However, sometimes, the causes that lead to neck pain are challenging to identify, as there are a large number of cervical conditions that can lead to it.
What Are Some Common Causes of Neck Pain?
For one thing, our everyday posture has the most pronounced effect on neck pain. Are you used to spending hours in front of the computer? You slump over on your couch? Do you often text on your mobile phone and look down? In this case, your neck muscles will become strained, and you will need specialist treatment to relax them. Of course, there are also more severe causes. Have you been involved in a traffic accident? Then there’s a good chance your neck pain is caused by whiplash, a strain of the cervical muscles or ligaments caused by rapid acceleration or deceleration.
Neck pain can also be caused by cervical spondylosis, complicated by herniated discs, or by pinched nerves, which may be related or unrelated to degenerative conditions affecting the spine. Due to its flexibility, the human neck is prone to muscle atrophy and disc wear and tear as years go by. Have you reached the ripe old age of 80? Then, you have a 95% chance of being affected by a degenerative condition that puts pressure on your cervical nerves. Chiropractic treatment helps with spinal conditions that affect the lumbar vertebrae. However, it’s not an all-encompassing cure that can mend you overnight.
When combined with a massage for neck pain, spinal adjustments, electrical stimulation and ultrasound therapy can significantly reduce pain. However, if the condition affecting you is untreatable, the pain will most likely return over time, and the procedures will require resumption. Unlike lower back problems, upper spine issues are trickier and require constant strengthening of the muscles for the effects to be sustained for longer. In addition, changes to our lifestyle will be needed, mainly how we maintain our posture at work. And for many of us, such changes are difficult to implement.
How Do You Choose a Chiropractor for Neck Pain?
Are you searching for a chiropractor who can give you a massage for neck pain? In this case, it is essential to choose the services of an accredited expert. In Australia, chiropractors must attend a minimum five-year program recognised by the Chiropractic Board of Australia. The CBA is the institution that regulates chiropractic practices in our country, and in turn, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The expert you call upon must continue their professional development to maintain their degree, and they must benefit from positive reviews from a broad range of clients.
All Australian chiropractors should have their information listed on the AHPRA website. However, there are other elements to keep in mind when choosing the services of a chiropractic expert. Are you looking for someone to provide you with a quality massage for neck pain? Then, a good idea is to look for a chiropractor specialising in cervical conditions. Do you suffer from herniated discs in your L1 vertebrae? Then, you will need a specialist in lower back issues. Chiropractors, like healthcare professionals, can focus on different specialties and use various tools for the spinal or joint problems affecting clients.
It Can Bring Great Relief
The professional services of a chiropractor for neck pain can represent one of the most effective ways to manage cervical issues and improve mobility. The expert you call could perform a massage for neck pain that relaxes your muscles and ligaments, perform adjustments to your spine to reduce pressure on the cervical nerves, create a muscle-strengthening plan that will have a positive effect on degenerative spinal conditions, and administer procedures like ultrasonic therapy, that will alleviate a good chunk of the discomfort you feel daily.
Neck pain is common and, unfortunately, almost impossible to prevent in this day and age. Nevertheless, calling a chiropractor can help. Professional chiropractic treatments can improve overall cervical mobility, resolve persistent migraines, relax neck muscles, restore normal nervous system functions and help with sports injuries. However, neck adjustments are not a joke. Therefore, it is essential that you only seek the professional services of a licensed chiropractor who is registered with the AHPRA and who has obtained at least a Bachelor of Science in Chiropractic from a regulated and accredited chiropractic school.