Unlocking Relief: Chiropractic Adjustments for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Unlocking Relief: Chiropractic Adjustments for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Neck and shoulder pain is prevalent among adults. This pain often stems from the rigors of daily life such as prolonged sitting, poor posture, injuries, trauma or repetitive activities.
Differentiating between neck and shoulder pain is crucial for effective treatment and chiropractic care can play a significant role in providing relief.
Common Causes of Neck and Shoulder Pain:
Neck and shoulder discomfort can originate from various sources:
- Muscle Strain and Tension: Often due to activities like prolonged computer use or heavy lifting.
- Injury: Accidents or overuse can cause acute pain.
- Wear & Tear: Osteoarthritis can affect both neck and shoulder joints.
- Nerve Compression: Herniated discs or bone spurs in the vertebrae can press on nerves.
- Whiplash Trauma: Car wrecks, slip and falls or sporting injuries
Why Chronic Pain Costs Millions To Treat
Chronic pain is a pervasive issue, affecting a significant portion of the population and contributing to substantial medical costs. It's estimated that chronic pain impacts millions globally, often leading to long-term disability and a decreased quality of life.
Chiropractic care such as chiropractic adjustments for neck and shoulder pain emerges as a crucial, cost-effective treatment modality for treating pain. By focusing on non-pharmacological interventions like spinal adjustments, manual therapies, and personalized exercise programs chiropractic care can address the root causes of pain.
Conservative care reduces the reliance on expensive medications and invasive surgeries.
Studies have shown that patients who receive regular chiropractic care tend to experience lower overall healthcare costs, fewer hospital admissions, and a reduced need for pain medications.
This not only alleviates the financial burden on the healthcare system but also offers a more sustainable approach to managing chronic pain.
Differentiating Neck from Shoulder Pain:
Identifying the source of pain is essential.
Shoulder pain typically arises from the joint or surrounding muscles, whereas neck pain often involves the cervical spine and associated nerves.
Symptoms like numbness or tingling along the arm usually suggest a cervical origin.
Chiropractic Adjustments for Neck & Shoulder Pain Relief:
Chiropractic care through spinal adjustments and other modalities can offer significant benefits:
- Restoring Alignment: Adjustments can realign the spine, reducing strain on muscles and nerves.
- Improving Mobility: Chiropractic care enhances joint mobility, alleviating stiffness and pain.
- Nerve Function: Proper spinal alignment aids in optimal nerve function, addressing root causes of pain.
Scientific Support for Chiropractic Care:
Recent research led by Patricia M. Herman provides compelling evidence for the effectiveness of chiropractic care in treating chronic neck and shoulder pain.
Conducted across 124 U.S. clinics, the study found that regular chiropractic visits significantly improved chronic neck pain over three months.
Importantly, patients with more intense pain at the start saw greater benefits from frequent visits, especially when exceeding once a week.
This study confirms that regular chiropractic treatments not only reduce pain but also improve overall function for those with ongoing neck and shoulder issues.
It strongly supports the role of chiropractic care as a key component in managing chronic spinal pain.
Treatment options for your neck and shoulder pain
In the treatment of spinal adjustments for neck and shoulder pain, chiropractic care encompasses a diverse range of effective therapies.
Spinal adjustments are a cornerstone skillfully realigning the spine to alleviate pain and improve function.
Therapies options that may assist in pain relief:
- Electrical stimulation (E-stim) - is employed to reduce pain and muscle spasms by sending mild electrical pulses through the skin.
- Class 4 laser therapy - which uses specific light wavelengths to promote tissue healing and pain relief.
- Shockwave therapy - a newer modality, delivers acoustic waves to the painful area, stimulating healing and reducing discomfort.
- Manual therapy - including massage and mobilization is used to increase range of motion, increase strength and decrease stiffness.
Lastly tailored exercise programs are prescribed to strengthen and stabilize the neck and shoulder regions preventing future pain and injury.
By integrating these therapies chiropractic care offers a comprehensive approach to managing and resolving neck and shoulder pain.
Exercises To Support Neck and Shoulder Pain
Simple exercises can be highly effective in alleviating neck and shoulder pain when muscles are tight. Exercises should be performed consistently and with proper technique.
Here's an overview of some beneficial exercises:
- Neck Tilts and Turns: Gently tilt your head towards each shoulder and hold for a few seconds, then rotate your head slowly from side to side. This can help in loosening tight neck muscles.
- Shoulder Rolls: Roll your shoulders in a circular motion, both forwards and backwards. Focus on the backwards motion. This simple movement can help in reducing tension and improving circulation in the shoulder area.
- Arm Circles: Extend your arms and make slow controlled circles with your hands. Start with small circles and gradually increase the diameter. This exercise is great for increasing mobility in the shoulder joints.
- Wall Angel Exercise: Stand with your back against a wall, feet shoulder-width apart. Press the back of your arms and hands against the wall while raising them above your head, then bring them back down. This helps in strengthening the shoulder and upper back muscles.
Remember, it's important to do these exercises gently and avoid any movements that cause pain.
It's always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure these exercises are suitable for your specific condition.
Where To Start
Chiropractic adjustments offer a safe, effective approach to addressing neck and shoulder pain by targeting the root cause rather than just symptoms.
Chiropractic management also has the possibility of lowering health care costs due when used as a first line of treatment for lower back pain.
If you have questions about whether chiropractic adjustments for neck and shoulder pain are right for you book an appointment or call our office today.