You may not realize how often you turn your head or look up until it hurts to move your neck. It’s not unusual to have neck pain every once in a while if you sleep in an awkward position or stare down at your phone for too long. It’s also possible to develop neck pain from a medical condition, like osteoarthritis, or an injury, such as whiplash. Regardless of the cause, neck pain can put a damper on your day. The good news is that physical therapy can help.
If you’re experiencing persistent, recurring or worsening neck pain, a physical therapist can guide you through some techniques that can help alleviate the symptoms during sessions that you can continue between appointments and after treatment is over.
3 practical approaches to neck pain treatment from physical therapists
The goal of physical therapy for neck pain is to alleviate the pain and stiffness while also improving the overall function of the area, such as increasing muscle strength and flexibility. Here are a few approaches that a physical therapist may recommend that you use both inside and outside of the clinic:
- Stretches
When you’re experiencing neck pain, it often occurs alongside stiffness and reduced range of motion, which can interfere with your everyday movements. A physical therapist can show you safe and effective stretches that target your neck muscles to reduce tension and increase flexibility. They’ll also let you know how often to complete them at home for continued progress. Example stretches include side bending and neck rotations.
- Strengthening exercises
By boosting the strength of your neck muscles, you can decrease some of the tension being placed on the nerves that’s contributing to your pain. Strengthening exercises can also boost the support around your spine to maintain balance and coordination during movements. A few strengthening exercises that your physical therapist may recommend include chin tucks and wall angels.
- Postural adjustments
Poor posture is a common reason for neck pain, such as slouched shoulders. But a physical therapist can help you make gradual adjustments to your posture to reduce the strain on your neck that can contribute to pain. You can continue to practice the adjustments between sessions to get your body used to the new position. They may also recommend ergonomic equipment for your workstation that can reduce neck strain.Â
At REPAIR SI, we’ll make a personalized treatment plan to address your neck pain based on the potential cause, severity and overall goals. We want to help you become educated on how to reduce your current issues so that you can alleviate them on your own in the future.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.