Manual Therapy For Neck Pain

By Ray Gerald Phelan


Pain found in any region of the body is uncomfortable and may require treatment from a professional. For people experiencing neck pain, care by a chiropractor may be the treatment of choice. In the September 2011 issue of Consumer Reports, when reviewing all healthcare providers for this type of pain, chiropractic care was rated the highest in patient satisfaction. In the United States, doctors of chiropractic are the professionals to turn to for manipulation of vertebrae in the neck and cervical spine. Read further to learn more about what chiropractic can do to provide much-needed relief.

A 2003 issue of British Medical Journal discussed a research study in which 183 patients suffering from discomfort in their necks were randomly chosen for different forms of treatment. During the 52-week span involving the study, patients received treatment consisting mainly of exercise and manual therapy involving spinal manipulation, or general care that involved drug treatments, counseling, and education. Manual therapy is also called manipulation or spinal adjustments. Those who received manual therapy experienced the quickest recoveries. An additional benefit was the lowered cost of manual therapy, which was approximately one-third the cost of the other type of treatment.

Before chiropractors can treat people experiencing discomfort in the neck area, they determine the origin of the pain and identify all associated factors. Once these have been noted, an appropriate treatment plan is determined for pain elimination. Chiropractic care for this type of pain includes a variety of natural, non-invasive therapies and safe. The most essential and effective treatment is the chiropractic spinal adjustment, which corrects the major problem experienced by most patients with discomfort in their necks.

Most people suffering from this type of pain have either experienced an acute accident that damaged tissue and altered the structural integrity of the neck or have been exposed to sustained, adverse stresses on the spine and neck due to improper posture and other bad techniques. As a result, spinal components are almost always misaligned structurally and not functioning optimally from a biomechanical perspective. Realigning spinal segments and restoring normal range of motion are the only long-term ways to effectively correct this.

A spinal adjustment accomplishes these goals and also creates reflexive pain relief and muscle spasm reduction. The treatment stimulates many mechanoreceptors present in the vertebrae joints. This sends messages to the brain that shut down pain signals, causing muscles to relax in response. Spinal adjustment also introduces motion that helps to eliminate inflammation. Chemicals associated with inflammation are known to irritate pain fibers.

Chiropractors also teach patients to exhibit proper posture to maintain neck and back health. Proper lifting and telephone techniques are also explained. Patients are even provided with alternatives to repetitive motions. Each of these recommended habits and techniques is designed to prevent the back and neck from injury and discomfort.

Eliminating the neck discomfort experienced by some people may involve other manual therapies including acupressure, trigger point therapy, and massage. These help to increase the mobility of the cervical spine and give relaxation to the muscles. Chiropractic care may also involve electrical muscle stimulation and other forms of physiotherapy, corrective exercises, and a nutrient-rich diet designed for optimal cervical spine health.




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