Patient’s Guide When Seeking Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain

February 15, 2023Neck Pain Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain

Are you one of the 200 million adults struggling with neck pain?^[1]Does it limit your mobility or cause discomfort? Our daily activities are not kind to the neck. The reality is that neck pain stems from various reasons, including posture and underlying health conditions.

Pain in the neck and shoulders usually evolves over time. It does not start overnight. As a working adult, you likely lead a busy life, and while neck pain can slow down your daily routine, it doesn’t have to. The good news is that chiropractic care may be exactly what you need to get rid of that nagging neck pain finally. In addition to providing long-term relief, it can also improve your overall well-being.

This blog serves as an informative guide on seeking chiropractic care tailored to treat neck pain and what to expect from the treatment.

What is neck pain?

Neck pain is any discomfort affecting the neck area, including the muscles, tendons, nerves, and cervical spine. This pain can start small but can worsen over time if left untreated. It’s a common problem among working adults, particularly those who sit at their desks working long hours.

Neck pain is a prevalent problem across the globe. It’s considered a severe public health problem in the general population, with the highest burden reported in Finland, Norway, and Denmark^[2]. In Singapore, a study revealed that neck pain is a prevalent condition, with the severity of symptoms tied to a reduced quality of life and increased disability^[3].

Common causes of neck pain

Also called cervicalgia, neck pain can last from days to years, depending on the underlying causes. The common causes of neck pain include poor posture, injury, stain, pinched nerve, and other health conditions like spinal stenosis, herniated disk, and other degenerative conditions.

In some instances, injury can cause neck pain, including whiplash. Lifestyle practices can also contribute to neck pain, especially when facing daily stress triggers, poor sleep habits, and even the overuse of the neck from repetitive motions or prolonged use of electronic devices, which can lead to, muscle tension.

Neck pain signs and symptoms

When experiencing neck pain, you may not think much of it when it’s just a mild ache, but ignoring the signs and symptoms could lead to more serious consequences. The symptoms of neck pain can vary depending on the cause. Still, the common symptoms include:

Pain
Stiffness
Headache
Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, and fingers
Weakness in the muscles of the neck or arms
Fatigue
Loss of range of motion

Neck pain can disrupt your ability to perform daily tasks, especially for those who need to work hours on end in front of their desks. Thankfully, chiropractic care for neck pain typically involves spinal manipulation or adjustments, designed to improve the alignment and function of the spine. This can help to reduce pain and muscle spasms, improve the range of motion, and promote healing.

Neck pain remedies

Some common neck pain remedies include over-the-counter medicines, ice and heat therapy, and massage. Maintaining proper posture while sitting, standing, and sleeping can help prevent neck pain from worsening. An effective remedy that’s popular today is chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic care is often a recommended long-term remedy for neck pain. Treatment may include spinal manipulations, stretches, and exercises to improve posture, alleviate pressure on the neck, and reduce inflammation. Additionally, chiropractors may provide lifestyle advice on posture, ergonomics, and stress management to help prevent neck pain from recurring.

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic is an allied healthcare profession concerned with the conservative management of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system (joints, muscles and nerves). Musculoskeletal conditions include but are not limited to back pain, neck pain, chronic pain, headaches, sciatica, scoliosis and more. It can be a valuable long-term solution for many people with chronic pain and other conditions.

Chiropractors use manual therapy techniques, such as spinal manipulation, to help alleviate pain and improve the range of motion in the affected area. They may also recommend exercises, lifestyle modifications, and other therapies to help their patients achieve optimal health and wellness.

One of the key benefits of chiropractic care is that it can help address the root cause of musculoskeletal pain rather than simply treating the symptoms. This can help reduce the need for ongoing pain management and prevent future injuries or exacerbations of existing conditions.

Furthermore, a chiropractor keeps the spine and nervous system healthy and functioning properly. This is achieved by using manual therapy such as spinal manipulation and mobilisation to correct joint restrictions, which helps promote the body’s natural ability to heal.

If you prefer a hands-on approach to your healthcare that promotes natural healing without medications or surgery, Chiropractic treatments offer a non-invasive and non-surgical solution.

Find out more about Dr Richard Kissun

Effectiveness of chiropractic care for neck pain

Chiropractic care is an effective treatment that provides a safe, non-invasive treatment for neck pain. For one, spinal manipulation is an effective treatment for acute and chronic neck pain, potentially giving patients long-term relief without relying on medicines and other invasive treatments.

Research has shown how chiropractic treatment allows patients to enjoy life without neck pain or discomfort. One study showed that chiropractic care improves outcomes for treating acute and chronic neck pain^[4]. For example, in a study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, the researchers found that patients with acute neck pain experienced relief under chiropractic care and had no noted serious side effects^[5]. Another study noted chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, activator adjustment of the neck and neck massage on older adults with neck pain and co-morbid headache, improved symptoms^[6] .

What to expect from chiropractic care

Chiropractic can be a viable solution for many individuals who prefer not to opt for surgery and medication for their musculoskeletal conditions unless necessary.

One of the main benefits of chiropractic care is that it is a non-invasive and drug-free approach to managing pain and improving musculoskeletal function.

In many cases, chiropractic care can help individuals avoid surgery or medication by addressing the root cause of their pain and promoting long-term healing and recovery.

It’s always best to consult a health professional like a Chiropractor to determine the suitable treatment for your specific needs and goals. They can help you understand chiropractic’s potential benefits and limitations and develop a customised treatment plan tailored to your needs.

When seeking chiropractic care for neck pain, it is important to find a qualified and licensed chiropractor. You should also clearly understand what to expect during treatment and any potential risks or side effects.

Furthermore, your chiropractor will conduct a detailed physical examination and consultation. A chiropractor’s physical examination typically involves evaluating the patient’s medical history, posture, spine, range of motion, muscle strength, and nerve function. The examination aims to find the source of the patient’s pain or discomfort and develop a treatment plan to alleviate it.

The treatment will typically involve adjustments to the cervical spine and other therapies, including heat or cold therapy and stretching exercises. The frequency and duration of the treatment will depend on on the extent and severity of your neck pain and how quickly you respond to the therapy.

It’s essential to communicate with your chiropractor about any discomfort or pain you experience during the treatment. You should also update them about any changes in your symptoms. This way, they can tailor the treatment for you. Furthermore, you will be advised about lifestyle modifications, like changes in posture and ergonomics, which are crucial to preventing neck pain from recurring.

The bottom line

Don’t let neck pain hold you back from living your best life. We hope this informative guide has enlightened you on seeking chiropractic care for neck pain and how it can help relieve any neck discomfort.

Kissun Chiropractic is a trusted and leading Chiropractic clinic in Singapore, offering affordable and effective treatments for all ages in the community. Their chiropractors are certified and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Further, they have established many years of experience in treating patients with back pain effectively in Singapore. They are also experienced in treating routine and complex neuromusculoskeletal conditions such as headaches, neck, shoulder aches, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, sciatica, pregnancy aches and pains, sports injuries, performing ergonomic assessments and postural checks. Patients’ conditions are managed through natural, safe, non-invasive, drug and surgery-free treatments, relying on the bodies’ inherent recuperative functions. Treatment plans are customised to patients’ specific needs and preferences.

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Source:

Dong Woo Shin, Jae Il Shi, Ai Koyanagi, et.al. (2022). Global, regional, and national neck pain burden in the general population, 1990–2019: An analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019. Frontiers in Neurology. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.955367/full#:~:text=Globally
Saeid Safiri, Ali-Asghar Kolahi, Damian Hoy, et.al. (2020). Global, regional, and national burden of neck pain in the general population, 1990-2017: systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The British Medical Journal (BMJ). https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/368/bmj.m791.full.pdf
Hwee Weng Dennis Hey, Joel Xue Yi Lim, Jing Zhi Ong, and Nan Luo. (2021). Epidemiology of Neck Pain and Its Impact on Quality-of-Life-A Population-Based, Cross Sectional Study in Singapore. Spine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34714794/
Roland Bryans, Philip Decina, and Martin Descarreaux et.al. (2014). Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. –https://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(13)00237-6/fulltext
Michael Hanelin and Robert Cooperstein.(2009).Chiropractic care for patients with acute neck pain: results of a pragmatic practice-based feasibility study.Journal of Chiropractic Medicine.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2786244/
Dein Vindigni, Laura Zark, & Tobias Sundberg et.al.(2019).Chiropractic treatment of older adults with neck pain with or without headache or dizziness: analysis of 288 Australian chiropractors’ self-reported views. Chiropractic and Manual Therapies.https://chiromt.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12998-019-0288-1