Neck Pain: Edmonton Clinic
Edmonton’s choice for Neck and Back Pain Clinic. Learn how simple and effective treatments can restore neck movement, strength and eliminate pain for good.
Neck Pain: Overview
Neck pain is a very common problem that can greatly change your quality of life. Living with neck pain can be difficult to cope with and function. Neck pain can sometimes cause a variety of suffering symptoms. These can range from neck stiffness, muscle tenderness, headaches, jaw pain, and referral down the middle back and sometimes into the shoulder. Many people with neck pain, especially chronic (> 3 months), often report feeling hopeless, and discouraged of the recovery process. Sometimes, exercise can improve neck symptoms, but often too much stress to the neck can aggravate symptoms. The balance required to stimulate healing and improve strength is often difficult to gauge.
Neck Pain: Common Symptoms
Neck stiffness with range of motion
Increase pain with end range movements
Loss of mobility with movement
Tender muscles and joints
Nerve root irritation
Radiating pain into upper back and shoulder
Headaches and or jaw pain
Common Pathologies
Strains and Sprains
Arthritis
Degeneration and Spondylosis
Radiculopathy
Myofascial Pain Whiplash
Overuse syndromes and poor posture
Joint stiffness
Muscle stiffness
Lack of exercise and strength
Over active muscles or loss of muscle balance in upper extremity
Take Control of Your Pain
Neck pain can often grip our lives and make general chores and house work very difficult. Aggravated by stress, many people report being stuck is a vicious circle. However, there is hope and there is help. Look below for some common treatment options to help relieve neck pain and recover from injury, trauma and aggravation.
Recovery Tips
Get the Heart Pumping
Simple exercise such as walking, brisk walking, stairs, and general activity is very good for the neck. The key is to listen to your body and take rest when required. The benefits of full body exercise are substantial for neck pain. They are also undervalued and often not spoke of. So attempt to continue what you enjoy doing, you body will thank you.
Invest in Upper and Lower Body Strength
Start slow but strength exercises are key to keeping neck pain under wraps. In fact, building strength is important for protecting you spine and maintaining a healthy body. Below is a simple and effective program for a variety of neck pain disorders.
Neck Pain Program:
Bird Dog
Shoulder press 12 reps, 2 sets (min-mod weight)
Deadlifts (As Above)
Squats (As above)
Neck rotation and Flexion Stretch (30 seconds each side, 4 times each side)
See a Physical Therapist
It is proven that seeing a physical therapist can be highly beneficial to understanding which is driving your pain and how you can stop it.
A Physical Therapist Will assess:
Muscle length and strength
Joint Movement
Neurological System
System Imbalances
Having insight into you conditions can be very powerful and allow you to understand how to continue to improve and feel better.