Chiropractic Care For Neck Pain | About Health and Fitness ...

By Ray Gerald Phelan

Pain in any area of the body is uncomfortable and may require professional treatment. For people suffering from neck pain, chiropractic care may be the treatment of choice. According to the September 2011 issue of Consumer Reports, of all healthcare providers for this type of pain, chiropractic care was rated the highest in patient satisfaction. In the United States, a chiropractor is the medical professional to turn to for manipulation of vertebrae in the neck and cervical spine. Learn more about what a chiropractor can do to provide much-needed relief.

A 2003 issue of British Medical Journal discussed a study in which 183 patients suffering from pain in their necks were randomly chosen for different types of treatment. During the 52-week period covered by the study, patients received physiotherapy consisting mainly of exercise, manual therapy involving spinal manipulation, or general care that involved drug treatments, counseling, and education. The patients who received manual therapy experienced the fastest recoveries. An added benefit was the reduced cost of manual therapy, which was approximately one-third the cost of the other two types of treatment.

Before chiropractors can treat people experiencing discomfort in the neck area, they determine the origin of the pain and identify all associated factors. Once these have been noted, an appropriate treatment plan is determined for pain elimination. Chiropractic care for this type of pain includes a variety of natural, non-invasive therapies and safe. The most essential and effective treatment is the chiropractic spinal adjustment, which corrects the major problem experienced by most patients with discomfort in their necks.

Most people suffering from this type of pain have either experienced an acute accident that damaged tissue and altered the structural integrity of the neck or have been exposed to sustained, adverse stresses on the spine and neck due to improper posture and other bad techniques. As a result, spinal components are almost always misaligned structurally and not functioning optimally from a biomechanical perspective. Realigning spinal segments and restoring normal range of motion are the only long-term ways to effectively correct this.

Spinal manipulative therapy accomplishes these goals and also gives reflexive pain relief and muscle spasm reduction and elimination. The chiropractic treatment activates the many mechanoreceptors present in the vertebral joints. This allows messages to transmit to the brain to shut down pain signals, causing muscles to relax in response. Spinal adjustments also provide proper motion to the joints of the spine that helps to eliminate inflammation. Inflammatory chemicals associated with the condition are known to irritate pain fibers.

Doctors of chiropractic also teach patients to utilize proper posture to maintain neck and back health. Proper lifting and carrying techniques are also explained and demonstrated. Patients may need to be provided alternatives to harmful repetitive motions. Each of these suggested habits and techniques is designed to prevent the back and neck from future injury and discomfort.

Relieving the neck pain experienced by some patients may involve additional manual therapies including acupressure, trigger point, and massage. These help to relax cervical muscles and increase the mobility of the cervical spine. Chiropractors may also recommend muscle stimulation or another form of physical therapy, therapeutic exercises, and a nutrient-rich diet designed for optimal cervical spine health.

About the Author:

Ray Gerald Phelan is an author writing about health related topics. Are you looking for a Pittsburgh North Hills chiropractor? More information about this Pittsburgh North Hills Chiropractor can be found at this website http://www.northhillspachiropractor.com.

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