How A Professional Chiropractor Can Help Alleviate Neck Pain
Neck pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they arrive at a chiropractic clinic. Sometimes, it occurs suddenly, as if the muscles in the neck tighten due to inflammation or trauma. Other times, it begins as mild discomfort, and gradually worsens over weeks or months.
Many patients initially visit medical doctors to seek advice and relief. They are often given medications to reduce the pain, and sometimes encouraged to consider surgery. In most cases, neither approach is necessary. Most types of neck-related discomfort originate from subluxations in the cervical vertebrae. As such, they can usually be managed by a trained chiropractic doctor without the use of drugs or surgery.
In this article, we’ll briefly explain the first examination method taught to chiropractic students, and describe how it is used to detect neck pain. We’ll then present the most common reasons such pain develops. Lastly, we’ll describe some of the treatment methods chiropractors employ to provide relief for their patients.
Understanding Palpation For Detecting Pain And Subluxations
Palpation is a method used to examine the spine by touch. The professional chiropractor uses his or her hands to gently feel the tissue around the vertebrae. This is done to identify areas that emit pain, or suggest a lack of flexibility. While other diagnostic studies are often done, palpation is a useful way to detect spine-related problems, and determine their severity.
Each joint’s range of motion is tested for tightness and other signs that indicate inflammation. If such signs are detected, the chiropractic doctor then works to uncover the root cause.
How Chiropractors Examine The Patient’s Neck
When examining the joints of the neck, the chiropractor must be able to access each of them easily with plenty of room to test their range of motion. For this reason, patients are asked to sit while the chiropractor performs the examination from behind. The joints are tested individually to determine whether any have become locked, which triggers tension and reduces flexibility.
Once the examination has been completed, the chiropractor will explain the results to the patient, and describe possible causes. The relationship between the vertebrae and various effects that subluxations can produce (including neck pain) is still largely unknown. Thus, further investigation is usually necessary. The patient may be asked several questions to help pinpoint the nature of the problem.
Potential Reasons For Neck Pain
There are many factors that contribute to neck pain, but most can be categorized into a few broadly-defined groups. These groups include trauma, strain from repetitive motions, arthritis, and disc-related abnormalities.
Trauma can occur as the result of any incident that places excessive and sudden strain on the cervical vertebrae. For example, the patient may sustain a neck injury stemming from a car accident, a bad fall, or an impact suffered during a sporting event. Such events can cause tiny tears in the ligaments, and inflame the muscles. Adjusting the cervical vertebrae that were moved out of place usually provides relief, and sets the stage for the ligaments and muscles to heal.
Repetitive motions can cause tension and strain in the neck muscles and nerves of the vertebrae. This can occur when the patient sits for long periods, as might be the case for someone who works on the computer all day. Here, gently manipulating the affected vertebrae can relieve tension on the nerves. This alone may be enough to reduce, and even eliminate, the patient’s discomfort.
Stiffness in the neck is often caused by arthritis. Rather than “popping” the vertebrae back into place, the chiropractor gently manipulates the affected joints to improve their flexibility and range of motion. At-home care is an important element in reducing the patient’s pain.
Intense pain in the neck may be triggered by a slipped disc. This may occur when the patient lifts a heavy object or twists his body in an odd manner. The chiropractic doctor may use several methods to provide relief, such as vertebral manipulation, stretching exercises, and electrical stimulation.
Neck pain can be debilitating, and especially so when it worsens over time. An experienced chiropractor will treat the root cause, thereby eliminating the patient’s discomfort.