Chiropractic Treatment for Neck Pain in Cambridge
Neck pain can affect everything from turning your head and working comfortably to sleeping, exercising and driving. At our Cambridge chiropractic clinic, we see people with a range of neck-related symptoms and begin by assessing what may be contributing to the problem before recommending the most appropriate next steps.
Our chiropractors in Cambridge take an individual approach to care, which may include chiropractic treatment, movement and exercise advice or additional support from other services within the clinic where appropriate.
What is Neck Pain?
Neck pain can range from mild stiffness or discomfort to pain that significantly restricts movement. Symptoms may remain around the neck or extend into the shoulders, upper back, head or arms. Headaches can also occur alongside some types of neck pain.
There are many possible causes, including muscle or joint irritation, posture and prolonged positions, overuse, injury and age-related changes. Because different problems can produce similar symptoms, an assessment can help determine what may be contributing to your neck pain and whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
Causes of Neck Pain
There are many possible causes of neck pain. The location of your symptoms, how they began, how long they have been present and which movements make them better or worse can all provide useful information during an assessment. Some of the neck pain problems we commonly discuss with patients include:
- Direct injury from falls or blows. Often the initial advice will be PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation), but your chiropractor will be able to manage your condition appropriately and suggest X-ray or other imaging as appropriate.
- Whiplash style injuries. These may range from small jerks of the head through to road traffic incidents. The severity of such an injury and the length of time between injury and the appointment will often dictate the level to which chiropractic, massage or laser therapy might be able to help.
- Posture. Known as ‘forward head carriage’. This is very common in office workers or heavy phone and tablet users.
- Overuse. Often people have habits which lead to leaning or turning the head more one way than the other.
- Underuse. Most people don’t move their necks through their full range of motion in daily life.
- Stress. Stress always adds extra tension and inflammation through the neck because of the body being in a ‘fight or flight’ mode. Chiropractic and massage therapy have both been shown to be useful in combating stress.
- Underlying health problems. Other problems can manifest as neck pain, although it is usually obvious to your chiropractor when this is the case. If your practitioner suspects that you have an underlying health problem causing your neck pain, you will be referred and managed with other health professionals in order to deal with this.
How Can Chiropractic Treatment Help with Neck Pain?
If you are seeing a chiropractor for neck pain, your first appointment should begin with an assessment rather than treatment immediately being assumed to be appropriate.
At Relief, your chiropractor will discuss your symptoms and medical history and assess areas such as neck movement, joint function, muscle tension and any other relevant findings. This helps us decide whether chiropractic care is suitable for you and which approach may be most appropriate.
Where appropriate, treatment may include manual chiropractic techniques alongside advice about movement, activity and exercises. If further investigation is required, we can also discuss whether imaging such as an X-ray or referral to another healthcare professional is appropriate.
Treatment is tailored to the individual rather than using the same approach for every person with neck pain.
Can Massage Therapy Help Alongside Neck Pain Treatment?
Muscle tightness and tension around the neck, upper back and shoulders can sometimes accompany neck pain. Where appropriate, massage or soft tissue treatment may therefore be considered alongside other care.
At Relief, we also offer sports massage and relaxation massage. Whether these are appropriate will depend on your symptoms and the findings from your assessment.
Neck Pain Exercises and Stretches
Exercise and movement can form part of the management of some types of neck pain, but the most appropriate exercises will depend on your symptoms and what is contributing to them.
If exercises are appropriate for you, your chiropractor or therapist can recommend movements suited to your current ability and gradually adapt them as you progress. Avoid forcing movements that significantly increase your pain, and seek professional advice if you’re unsure what is appropriate for you.
When Should You See a Chiropractor for Neck Pain?
If neck pain is persistent, keeps returning or is affecting your movement and everyday activities, an assessment can help you understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and what your options are.
A chiropractor can assess whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your neck pain or whether another type of treatment or referral would be more suitable. If your symptoms follow significant trauma or are accompanied by symptoms such as marked weakness, numbness, fever, severe headache or problems with balance, seek appropriate medical advice promptly.
Book a visit with our Cambridge Chiropractor
If you live in Cambridge or the surrounding area and neck pain is affecting your movement or day-to-day life, our team can help you understand your options.
If you’d like to find out whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you, you can book a consultation or a FREE telephone call with our principal chiropractor. We’ll explain how our approach works and answer any questions before you decide whether you’d like to proceed.