Neck pain is one of the common reasons for someone seeking chiropractic care. If you want to learn how chiropractic care can treat neck pain, read on.

The cervical spine or your neck, provides support and movement to the head. The biomechanics of the neck does mean there is a risk of injury, whether it is through repetitive motions, wear and tear or sudden movements.

There are a range of causes of neck pain which tend to affect the joints, muscles and nerves in the cervical spine. While the initial pain may subside within a few days, there can be a nagging discomfort left behind.

Strains and sprains is one of the most common causes of neck pain, where a muscle, tendon or ligament has been irritated by overuse or over extension. Common causes of neck strains and sprains include:

We live in a tech-obsessed society. People leaning forward to look at their computers. Looking down constantly at our phones. It seems innocent, but this posture of hunching over and looking down at our phones is adding additional pressure to our neck and spine.

Overtime, this hunched position may cause long term damage to the spine through muscle strains, pinched nerves and herniated discs. It also disrupts the signals that transmit from the central nervous system to the rest of the body hindering the bodies ability to heal quickly and operate at optimal performance.

Did you know that the adult head weighs around 5kg? It’s a lot of weight for your neck to carry.

When someone has poor posture, they tend to tilt their head forward. When the head is tilted for longer periods of time, it causes the neck’s muscles, tendons and ligaments to work harder. This additional work through the neck may result in pain and discomfort.

Whiplash is a common injury caused by the head jerking backward then forward, it is commonly caused by a car accident but can also occur from activities such as rollercoasters and bungee jumping.

Waking up in the morning with a “crick” in the neck may be due to sleeping in awkward positions that over extend the neck. Understanding good sleeping posture along with quality pillows and mattress is important.

Neck pain is typically diagnosed as chronic when it continues for more than 3 months. Chronic neck pain will stem from issues in the cervical spine either with a joint or disc. Some common causes of chronic neck pain include:

A cervical disc is the cushions between the vertebrae in your neck. A herniated disc means this cushion will bulge or leak out from the disc’s protective layer, causing irritation, inflammation and press on nerves in the neck. A cervical herniated disc can result from aging or injury.

As you age your joints will wear down, this is no exception to the neck. Osteoarthritis can deteriorate the cartilage in the cervical joints causing your body to form bone spurs that limit the joint motion and trigger pain.

It is natural for wear and tear to occur in the cervical spine over time. As you age the discs gradually lose hydration and lose the cushioning effect between the vertebrae. Significant disc degeneration in the neck can lead to a herniated disc, pinched nerve and arthritis.