Chiropractic Adjustment for Neck Pain

A common reason for people to seek treatment from their health care provider is low neck pain. Of the many treatment options that are available for this type of condition, I’m going to discuss one of the most painless and effective treatments used by chiropractors.

neck pain is generally caused by acute injuries such as whiplash or long term strain on the neck and upper back through bad posture or poor ergonomics.  No matter what the cause, the pain is often due to problems in the joints of the spine. When we are injured or put a lot of strain on the neck, our body tries to protect it by tightening all the muscles around the area. This is helpful but can also cause problems since it doesn’t allow for proper movement of the joints. Our joints are made to move and are most healthy when they are moving properly.

One of the ways in which we treat improper or decreased movement in the joints of the body is through mobilization or manipulation. As chiropractors we call this type of treatment an adjustment. First we do an evaluation of the muscles and joints in the area to determine which joints are involved. Once we know where the problem is we perform an adjustment to mobilize the affected joints. This helps to decrease pain, increase movement in the joints, and relax the surrounding musculature.

There are many ways to perform an adjustment. For the neck it is performed with the patient either lying face up or sitting but can be performed other ways as well. The position in which the patient can best relax is most beneficial. The doctor places the patient in certain position and then applies pressure to increase the movement in the affected joints. The patient will often feel a “pop” in the joint being treated but this sound is not necessary for the adjustment to be effective. Adjustments are usually not painful. In fact most people report a sense of relief after an adjustment.

Chiropractic adjustments, along with exercises to stretch and strengthen the surrounding muscles, are very effective for treating neck and upper back pain. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, I encourage you to consider seeing a chiropractor for treatment.

Leave a Comment