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, click on
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Or call
877.364.4202
.
Get rid of that
PAIN
in the
NECK
Drew Matsen, PT, DPT, OCS
Advanced Therapy at Sharon Hospital
NECK
(cervical) pain is
the second most common
problem seen in the physical
therapy setting. Morning
stiffness, pain with rotation,
decreased range of motion
and headaches can all be
radiating from your cervical
spine. Cervical spine
dysfunction can also be the
cause of a shooting pain that
goes up into your shoulder blades
and/or upper extremities.
What do we do about this pain
in the neck? Neutral spine posture
is key to success when thinking of
cervical spine health.
We sit at computers all day
and read books or watch TV
at night in bed, but we rarely
check to be sure we are
doing those activities in a
way that is comfortable.
Is our computer screen
directly in front of us and
level with our eyes or a
little lower? Are we holding
our book above waist level
and looking down with our
eyes so we aren’t causing mass
flexion? Is the TV screen in front
of us or slightly off to one
side, causing rotation of the
cervical spine?
Alignment is vital to the
health and mobility of your
spine. Avoid positions that
cause mass flexion and mass
extension (looking up); just
doing that can greatly reduce
the incidence of neck pain.
Another tip: Keep your
chin tucked in so it remains in the
same plane without dropping or
lifting while you perform everyday
tasks. It helps relieve pain and can
prevent future problems.
Shoulder blade position is crucial
to protecting your cervical spine.
Performing a shoulder shrug by
squeezing the shoulder blades together
and then dropping the blades back
down is a great resting position for
muscles. This alignment takes weight
off the muscles that attach to the
cervical spine, reducing stress.
Contact your local
physical
therapist for
an evaluation
if your pain
persists.
Ready for relief?
The therapists at Advanced Therapy at Sharon Hospital take into account the
underlying causes of your condition and movement patterns. We use manual
therapy techniques, such as joint and soft tissue mobilization, along with
therapeutic exercise and modalities to relieve pain and restore function.
For example, if you have osteoarthritis, your therapist may treat you with joint
and soft tissue mobilization to improve your joint movement. Educating the muscles
is the next step in returning to normal function. Exercise is commonly prescribed
to improve coordination and promote ease of movement. If a patient is in acute
discomfort, a therapist may use modalities such as electrical stimulation,
ultrasound, heat and ice as well as the above techniques.
2
q
Drew Matsen, PT,
DPT, OCS