Head & Neck Pain 101
HEAD PAIN 101 There are a lot of different types of headaches that you may experience, and each can be caused by its own different reason. For example, migraines can be caused by environmental factors, food allergies or even as a result of stress. There are headaches that can develop due to sinus pain and headaches that will develop whenyouaredehydrated.Therearealsoheadaches thatwilldevelopwhenyouare exposed too long to loudnoises.There isnosingularfix foreachof thesedifferent typesofheadaches,which iswhyattemptingtotreateveryheadacheyouexperience with the same medication frequently doesn’t work. One of the most common causes of headaches that are easily treatable with physical therapy is radiating headaches, which are caused by stress in the joints and muscles of the neck.This causes pain to radiate from the top of the neck into the head, especially surrounding the ears.There are a lot of reasons why radiating headaches could develop, including as a result of lack of movement and stiffness in the neck. This buildup of irritation can be treated with regular physical therapy, especially through the use of massage and flexibility exercises that target the muscles in the neck. NECK PAIN 101 Inmanysituations,painthatdevelops intheneckcanbeassociatedwithoneoftwo majorproblems.Thefirst isupper-backpainthatbeginstoradiate intotheneck.The second isarthritis.Physicaltherapycanbeusedtoaddressbothtypesofneckpain.
generally worse when there are sudden changes in weather or at the end of the day,andwhileover-the-countermedicationmaymake thepain lesssevere, itwon’t eliminate the pain entirely. The biggest problem posed by cervical arthritis is that the pain will typically cause a loss of range of motion in the neck, which actually increases your risk of injury as a result of a sudden movement and causes regular discomfort and frustration as you are not able to utilize your neck in the way you normally could. There are plenty of situations in which pain in the neck as a result of cervical arthritis grows so severe that it can cause chronic poor posture and even a reduction in height. ADDRESSING THE CORE PROBLEM Themajorityofneckandheadpaincanbehelpedwithonesimplestrategy:strength building. It frequently happens that the absolute cause of the start of a pain in the neck or head is a result of poor posture or quickened motion, and building core strength,aswellasstrength in theneck,canmakeahugedifference inyourability to handle tasks without experiencing chronic pain. Keep inmind that theneckandheadaresensitiveareas,soattempting to treat the pain at home can be dangerous and may not be effective. Working with a physical therapist is the safe way to ensure that you are practicing positive techniques to find relief from your aches and pains. Ifyou’resufferingfromneckpain,callAscentPhysicalTherapyat 503.427.0118 to schedule your appointment today, or visit ascentptnw.com for more information.
Cervical arthritis causes frequent aches in the neck and shoulders. This pain is
Relieve Neck Pain In Minutes Try this simple exercise to keep you moving
Healthy Seasonal Recipe
CHOCOL ATE HA ZELNUT BISCOT TI
RELIEVES NECK PAIN
• 1 1/3 cups all- purpose flour • 1/2 tsp baking powder INGREDIENTS
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• 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 1 egg • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 3/4 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
• 1/2 tsp baking soda • 1/4 tsp kosher salt • 1/2 cup butter, softened
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375˚. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside. In another bowl, combine butter, chocolate hazelnut spread, sugar, and brown sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream ingredients together, about 4 min. Add egg and vanilla and beat until smooth, about 1 min. Using a woodenspoonor rubberspatula,stir inflourmixtureuntilmixed.Addhazelnuts and stir until mixed. Spoon out the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet, spacing the mounds about 4” apart. Use the tines of a fork to flatten the cookie dough. Bakeuntil lightlygoldenaround theedges,about10-12min.Useametalspatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
Neck Flexion Sit in a chair with good posture. Slowly lower your chin towards your chest as far as low as you comfortably can, then raise your head, looking up towards the ceiling as high as you comfortably can. Repeat 6 times.
For more information, call Ascent Physical Therapy at 503.427.0118 or visit our website at ascentptnw.com
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