Chronic neck pain is a common issue that we see at our physical therapy practice. According to the APTA’s Clinical Practice Guideline on Neck Pain, up to 70% of the population will have neck pain at some point in their lives. Certain risk factors for developing neck issues also exist. Some of these include being a woman, being a cyclist, and having a prior history of neck pain or injury.
Common physical impairments that we see in our office related to neck pain include stiffness in the thoracic spine (mid/upper back), tenderness in the muscles of the neck, weakness of the deeper neck muscles, and weakness in the muscles of the shoulder girdle.
In our office, we first go about treating neck conditions by alleviating pain. This can include dry needling of the trapezius and cervical extensors. We also can mobilize the bones in the neck and upper back to reduce pain.
Pain and poor mobility often go together. If we can alleviate pain and reduce stiffness and tension through the region, mobility often improves. The next goal is perform corrective exercises so the pain and mobility improvements stick. The corrective exercises target the muscles in shoulder girdle (lats, rhomboids, rotator cuff, serratus anterior) and deep neck muscles.
Once these muscles can engage better, when then include activities and movements to train these muscles in full patterns. We progress from simple 1-plane of motion exercises (e.g. pushing and pulling movements) to more dynamic movement patterns.
At Movement Solutions, our goal is always to get our patients out of pain, and restore mobility. We empower them with the knowledge to take care of their bodies so they know how to alleviate their symptoms if it creeps back. In addition, we teach our patients what needs to be done develop durable bodies that are resistant to pain and injury. If you’ve been dealing with neck pain, we know how frustrating that can be. If you would like to know more about our services, you can inquire about or costs and availability or schedule a free phone consultation at 864-558-7346. We would love to share with you how we can help.