Neck Pain

Modern living often involves hours of driving and hunching over workstations, which can play havoc with our necks. So it is not surprising that neck pain is the second most common condition that chiropractors treat. While less common than back pain, millions of people experience neck pain and related arm pain at some stage in their lives.

Neck pain results from abnormalities in the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and nerves) as well as in the bones and joints of the spine. The most common causes we identify and treat are soft-tissue abnormalities from injury or prolonged wear and tear, which in many people is also the source of pain in the upper back, shoulders and arms.

When neck pain is caused by muscle strain, you may have aches and stiffness that spread into the upper arm and forearm. Shooting pain down the arm into the hand and fingers can be a symptom of a pinched nerve or nerve entrapment in the neck, which may also cause numbness or weakness. Disc injuries are rare but are the most common cause of nerve entrapment.

Whiplash

Injuries to the neck caused by a sudden backward, forward or sideways movement of the head are referred to as whiplash. Whether from a car accident, sporting injury or accident at work, whiplash and neck injuries warrant a thorough chiropractic examination. Whiplash is most commonly suffered as a result of a road traffic accident, where an impact causes the head to jerk suddenly beyond its normal limits.

Wear and tear

Osteoarthritis or joint degeneration occurs due to the accumulation of stress and trauma over time. Throughout your life the spine withstands considerable weight-bearing strain, and degenerative changes can lead to stiffness and reduced mobility. However, like any other part of the body, the better the care taken of the spine, the less degeneration is likely to occur. Chiropractic treatment is usually very effective for neck pain.