Your neck supports the weight and movement of your head. It contains the vast majority of nerves that connect from your brain to the rest of your body. It weighs about 10 to 12 pounds, which is about the same weight as a bowling ball.
Poor posture such as slouching or sleeping incorrectly, prolonged driving, working at the computer, lifting children, decorating, and manual work can all result in the loss of proper movement in the joints in your neck.
This loss of joint movement can cause irritation of the nerves that exit your spine leading to pain in your neck , or referred pain over an area through which the nerves pass such as your arms.
Neck pain can be caused by the long-term effect of poor posture from bending, repetitive lifting or manual work. Losing the proper movement in the joints of your neck may interfere with the healthy working of the nerves that run through it causing irritation to these nerves. This, in turn, can lead to associated pain where the nerves end, often referred to as ‘referred pain’.
Our chiropractors will ask you questions about your pain, medical history, posture and lifestyle, carry out a fully and thorough examination to discover the cause of your neck pain and offer a diagnosis of your complaint.
Treatment may consist of specific adjustments done by hand to free stiff joints and reduce spinal nerve irritation. Our chiropractors may use mobilisation techniques, soft tissue massage and may also recommend ice and/or heat treatment. We also support the treatment with individual advice about your lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing a recurrence of the problem.
Chiropractic may be an alternative to drugs or surgery.