Pain in the Neck? Seek Out Chiropractic Care

Staff Writer

At some point, 50% of people will experience neck pain. The fact is, neck pain is the 4^th leading cause of disability and ranks second in the U.S. in annual worker’s compensation insurance costs. Chiropractic care by your Doctor of Chiropractic can provide answers.

Today, many people are seeking out alternative treatments to taking pain medication, making Doctors of Chiropractic a good place to begin finding answers. Evidence-based research has shown chiropractic care is safe, effective, and affordable.

Check out this resource for up-to-date information on chiropractic care.

The “Why” Behind Neck Pain

The neck is comprised of complicated structures (muscles, discs, joints, and nerves), which do the important job of holding your head upright. The smaller vertebrae in the neck allow for a lot of mobility, making the neck more vulnerable to pain and injury.

Some of the causes of neck pain include:

• Trauma, such as whiplash
• Prolonged sitting, such as at a desk or computer
• Awkward sleeping position
• Poor posture
• Repetitive stress
• Abnormalities in the bone structure
• Joint issues
• Muscle strains and pulls.

The causes listed above can have a direct influence on spinal motion and the surrounding soft tissues. The individual spinal segments (vertebra) can respond to stress and trauma in different ways including becoming restricted in their mobility. This restriction not only adds to the neck pain but can also be a direct cause of the pain and other cascades of symptoms.

The Case for Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care can help diagnose and address the common causes of neck pain, such as joint and soft tissue health. A Doctor of Chiropractic has the knowledge to assess, pinpoint, and offer non-invasive and drug free approaches for musculoskeletal pain.

Don’t Ignore the Pain Message

Unfortunately, many people let spinal problems go untreated. They hope that if they wait long enough, the pain will simply go away. While it may occasionally lessen or become tolerable, the cause of the pain is often still there.

Over time, that area can become aggravated, and the pain can return. If the source of the problem is not treated, pain can become much more intense and significantly reduce quality of life.

The point of seeking chiropractic care early, not later, is to ensure conditions don’t get to the stage where invasive procedures, prescription pain medications, or surgery may be the only option.

DIY: How do I prevent neck pain?

• Stay active!
  Keeping active gets more blood pumping throughout your body, improving mobility and overall health.
• Evenly distribute weight.
  Wearing a heavy shoulder bag or purse on one shoulder strains your neck muscles. Consider wearing a backpack to distribute the weight evenly over both shoulders or lighten the weight in your shoulder bag to carry your most needed items.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
  Sleeping on your stomach puts excessive pressure and strain on the spine. Try sleeping on your back or side with a pillow height that is not too high.
• Seek regular chiropractic care.
  Chiropractic adjustments help restore motion to the spine and reduce stress on the joints.
• Improve posture.
  The most common cause of posture-related neck pain is a forward-tilted head position. Keeping your head aligned with your shoulders reduces stress on the upper back and neck muscles.

CUKC Chiropractic Health Center

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas. Founded in 1922, our mission is to educate and develop leaders in chiropractic and other health science professions. The chiropractic interns and licensed clinicians who supervise your care are leaders in the field. Next-level chiropractic care is our ongoing goal.

The CUKC on-campus Chiropractic Health Center is open to the public and treats patients from Kansas City’s 15-county metro area. Our goal is to provide effective and affordable care and solutions for a better, more productive life for our patients.