Physiotherapy is one of the most common treatments for chronic neck pain. Physiotherapy is used to treat neck pain by first assessing the pain, tension, and stiffness of the patient. The second step is putting in place an exercise plan. Each exercise plan is different for every person based on the intensity of the neck pain. Meeting with your physiotherapists frequently for checkups helps to ensure your road to recovery is as fast as possible. Find our Physiotherapy Clinic Near by Today and Start the Treatments.
The Goal Of Neck Pain Physiotherapy
While seeking physiotherapy, the goals may include;
- Reduced pain
- Reduced stiffness around the neck and spine
- Improved range of motion, specifically around the neck
- Strengthen the neck muscles
- Reduce headaches
- Improve sleeping positions to reduce reoccurring pain
- Improve posture to reduce recurring pain
- Developing a long term treatment plan to prevent future pain
- Return to your usual activities – pain-free!
What Can I Expect From Physiotherapy For Neck Pain
The most effective and common physiotherapy methods for treating neck pain are:
- Neck Stretches.
Stretches are an effective way to train the muscles and doing neck stretches will allow you to reduce your neck pain greatly. Your physiotherapist will describe specific stretches and exercises such as the Chin Tuck. The chin tuck is when you look forward, and then slowly pull the chin straight back. This helps you to normalize the posture and curvature of the cervical spine. Hold this for 2 seconds and complete 3 sets of 10 twice a day and you will notice an improvement.
- Strengthening The Neck and Back
Your physiotherapist may also suggest some exercises for not only the neck but also the surrounding posture muscles such as the back. If you are experiencing neck pain, likely, you are also experiencing minor or major back pain as well. If you are aiming at improving neck strength and continuing then it is likely that the back muscles would also benefit from the strengthening. All the muscles of the bodywork together support the spine and they all contribute to improving posture.
Physical Activity and Manual Therapy
Manual therapy can include stretching of the neck muscles and mobilizations to reduce stiffness in the spine. There are many goals by using these techniques. Some of these goals are to reduce pain, improve tissue flexibility, and improve the range of motion while overall reducing stiffness in the joints.
- Physical Activity
Your physiotherapist may prescribe aerobic activities to improve the motion of the neck muscles. This activity elevates blood flow to your muscles. This happens because the heart and lungs are working harder to pump out blood to your body while you are exercising
Dry Needling, Acupuncture, and Electrotherapy
While these forms of treatment may sound daunting, they are excellent ways to treat neck pain. They involve the insertion of a small filament needle into muscle and surrounding tissues to decrease pain and improve blood flow which in turn reduces muscle tension. Dry needling and acupuncture use very thin needles and almost all patients experience no pain. You may feel a small amount of soreness shortly after.
This form of therapy also sounds intimidating but is great for reducing pain and soreness. This therapy alone will not fix chronic neck pain but will rather temporarily address the soreness. Electrotherapy involves using a device called IFC (interferential current) or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) to transmit mild electrical current to the muscles and tissues. This treatment is not painful and patients have described the feeling as a “tingling” or “pins and needles” feeling.
Summary
Neck pain is difficult to live with and affects your daily life. If you are experiencing symptoms of neck pain then the next step is to book to see a professional, well-trained physiotherapist. Physiotherapists can assess your neck pain and get to the root of the problem while creating a custom treatment plan for you. Don’t wait and book an appointment with ProActive Physiotherapy today!
