Neck pain
The exact cause is often unclear, most of it is not serious, and it usually improves within four to six weeks. Treatment and a home program make that faster and stop it returning.
Neck pain can follow a traumatic event such as a car accident or a collision, or build up without one through overuse. You may feel it in the neck itself, the shoulders, the arm, the base of the skull or even the back, and if a nerve is irritated there may be tingling in the arm or hand. Turning the head is often hard, and moving the neck, shoulders or back can seem to make it worse.
Common causes when there has been no injury
- Poor sitting posture at a desk or computer, reading or driving
- Poor sleeping posture
- Repeatedly looking up
- Changes in the joints and muscles with general wear and tear
- Stressful work and home situations
- Changes in neck posture because of eyewear
Keeping good posture
- Keep your monitor at eye level and use a chair with back support
- Avoid tilting your head to hold the phone, and looking down at it for long stretches
- Make sure your bedding supports the natural curve of your back and neck
How physiotherapy helps
However the injury happened, physiotherapy is an essential part of the road back. Soft tissue release and mobilisation reduce muscle spasm and keep the joints healthy. A thorough biomechanical assessment makes sure every contributing joint, muscle and nerve is addressed, and your physio will direct you to imaging or a referral if it is needed.
Strengthening and stretching the neck and the joints around it matter just as much, because they stop the problem getting worse in future. Your physio writes a home exercise program that fits your lifestyle and is aimed at keeping the pain from coming back.
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Advice on neck pain
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