Chiropractic and Neck Pain
Chiropractic care is a non-surgical treatment option which may help reduce your neck pain and related symptoms. Listed below are some of the neck (cervical) conditions that your chiropractor may be able to help with.
- Cervical intervertebral disk injuries that don’t require surgery
- Cervical sprain injuries
- Degenerative joint disease of the neck
- Facet joint sprain
- Whiplash
How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose Neck Pain?
Your chiropractor will evaluate your entire spine, as other regions of your spine or pelvis could be the underlying cause of your neck pain.
As well as checking your entire spine, chiropractors treat the “whole person,” not just your specific symptoms. He or she may educate you on nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle goals in addition to treating your neck pain.
Before deciding which approach to undertake for your pain, the chiropractor will do an examination to diagnose the precise explanation for your neck pain.
He or she is going to determine any areas of restricted movement, as well as your posture and spinal alignment. Through this examination your chiropractor gains a better understanding of your body mechanics.
In addition to the physical exam, your chiropractor will conduct a thorough history, and he or she may order imaging tests (eg, an x-ray, CT scan or MRI) to assist him or her diagnose the reason for your neck pain.
All these steps within the diagnostic process will give your chiropractor more information about your neck pain, which can help in creating a treatment plan customized for you.
Chiropractic Treatments for Neck Pain
Your chiropractor may use a mixture of spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and other techniques as a part of your treatment plan for neck pain.
Below are some spinal manipulation techniques your chiropractor may use.
Flexion-distraction technique may be a gentle, hands-on spinal manipulation that involves a pumping action on the intervertebral disk rather than direct force.
Instrument-assisted manipulation uses a hand-held instrument to permit your chiropractor to use force without thrusting into the spine.
Specific spinal manipulation helps restore joint movement employing a gentle thrusting technique.
Your chiropractor can also use manual therapies to treat your neck pain.
Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy uses special instruments to diagnose and treat muscle tension.
Manual joint stretching and resistance techniques can help reduce neck pain and other symptoms.
Therapeutic massage can help relax tense muscles.
Trigger point therapy is employed to alleviate tight, painful points on a muscle.
Other therapies can also be used to ease neck pain symptoms.
Therapeutic exercises may also be recommended—these can help improve overall range of motion in your neck and stop neck pain from progressing.
The treatments listed above are simply samples of possible chiropractic treatments for neck pain; your actual treatment plan will depend upon your diagnosis. Your chiropractor will thoroughly explain your treatment options in order that you recognize what is going to happen.