Are you suffering with neck pain?
We see this all the time – people come to us saying: “I don’t know how it started, but I can’t move my neck, and I just want to sleep without pain.” Neck pain is common among athletes, often from post-concussion issues or strains from impact during sports. For active adults, it might come from sleeping awkwardly, lifting a child overhead, or even something as simple as looking up too quickly.
What is Neck Pain?
Neck pain is, without a doubt, one of the most frustrating injuries to deal with. There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning, unable to move your head to the right, with sharp pain shooting into your shoulder blade or down your arm. You feel restricted, and the worst part is not knowing why it happened.
Regardless of the cause, it’s critical to address it promptly. Resting alone won’t solve the problem and neglecting it can lead to recurring pain.
What are the symptoms of Neck Pain?
Common symptoms include stiffness or soreness in the neck, making it difficult to turn your head or perform everyday movements. You may feel a sharp or stabbing pain in specific areas or a general ache that radiates to the shoulders, upper back, or arms.
In some cases, neck pain is accompanied by headaches, often originating at the base of the skull. Muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders are also common, creating additional tension and discomfort. Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the arms or hands can indicate nerve compression, often linked to conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
Other symptoms may include dizziness, fatigue, or difficulty maintaining proper posture. Persistent or worsening neck pain, particularly if it affects your daily activities, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional for proper treatment.
What Is Our Approach To Fixing / Treating Neck Pain?
Neck pain often requires a hands-on approach because the neck is such a fragile and complex area. The tissues in your neck are designed to protect you, but they can overcompensate when there’s an issue. This often leads to excessive muscle tightness, guarding, and tension, making movement stiff and painful. Whether caused by poor posture, a sudden movement, or an injury, addressing neck pain involves understanding and treating its root causes, not just the symptoms.
The first step in managing neck pain is calming down those overactive muscles to reduce tension and restore some flexibility. This is achieved through techniques like soft tissue massage, which helps relax the muscles, improve blood flow, and release built-up tension. Following this, we carefully assess how your neck joints are functioning. Restricted movement in these joints can exacerbate pain, so techniques like mobilization or gentle traction are used to realign the neck and alleviate discomfort.
Because the neck is home to many small, intricate muscles responsible for its fine movements, we prioritize activating the right muscles during the early stages of recovery. These fine motor exercises help restore balance and coordination to the area, which is essential for long-term relief.
Once mobility and pain levels improve, strength training becomes a critical component of recovery. Strengthening the neck and surrounding muscles helps provide the support needed to prevent future issues. This phase may involve exercises targeting not only the neck but also the upper back and shoulders, as these areas work together to stabilize the neck.
By combining these steps, we aim to address the immediate pain while building resilience to ensure it doesn’t return. This comprehensive approach empowers individuals to move confidently, free of discomfort, and return to the sports and activities they love without worry.
Download Our Free Report
Is neck pain impacting the sport and activities you love most? Desperate for natural solutions to your discomfort rather than short-term fixes offered by painkillers and injections? Get our free neck pain report and uncover the secret to lasting relief. This comprehensive guide explores the hidden causes of neck pain and offers straightforward strategies to ease stiffness, improve flexibility, and prevent flare-ups – all from the comfort of your own home!