Neck Pain Middle Island chiropractor

Most people do not realize how much they move their necks during the day until they are unable to do so. The degree of flexibility of the neck, coupled with the fact that it has the least amount of muscular stabilization and it has to support and move your 14 - 16 pound head, means that the neck is very susceptible to injury. You can picture your neck and head much like a bowling ball being held on top of a stick by small, thin, elastic bands. It doesn't take much force to disrupt that delicate balance.

What causes neck pain?

​​​​​​​Injuries

By far, the most common injury to the neck is a whiplash injury. Because symptoms of a whiplash injury can take weeks or months to manifest, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that you are not as injured as you really are. Car accidents that involve rear-end collisions frequently cause whiplash symptoms.

Poor Posture
Another cause of neck pain, and sometimes headaches, is poor posture. It's easy to get into bad posture habits without even realizing it - even an activity as "innocent" as reading in bed can ultimately lead to pain, headaches, and more serious problems. The basic rule is simple: keep your neck in a "neutral" position whenever possible. Don't bend or hunch your neck forward for long periods. Also, try not to sit in one position for a long time. If you must sit for an extended period, make sure your posture is good: Keep your head in a neutral position, make sure your back is supported, keep your knees slightly lower than your hips, and rest your arms if possible. Forward head posture, usually from working on a computer for long hours, also causes neck pain.

Covid work at home

Since the covid pandemic, many office workers are still working from home. This causes increased stress on the neck and upper back due to awkward postures while sitting, less physical activity, and longer periods of immobility. it is important to take breaks while working seated and stretch the upper back muscles to increase blood flow . This helps prevent stiffness and inflammation in the muscles.

Stress
When most people become stressed, they unconsciously contract their muscles. In particular, the muscles in their back and neck. This 'muscle guarding is a survival response designed to guard against injury. In today's world where we are not exposed to physical danger most of the time, muscle guarding still occurs whenever we become emotionally stressed. The areas most affected are the muscles of the neck, upper back, and low back. For most of us, the particular muscle affected by stress is the trapezius muscle, where daily stress usually leads to chronic tightness and the development of trigger points.

Disc Herniations
The discs in your cervical spine can herniate or bulge and put pressure on the nerves that exit from the spine through that area. Although cervical discs do not herniate nearly as often as lumbar discs do, they occasionally can herniate, especially when the discs sustain damage from a whiplash injury. The Doctors at Lupo Saladino Chiropractic in Middle Island will diagnose the cause of your neck pain and get you started on the right treatment to get relief.