I t’s probably safe to say that most of us, at some point in time, have woken up with neck pain or can recall an event or injury that resulted in significant neck or shoulder pain. In fact, at any given time, 13% of American adults suffer from neck pain, and up to 26% have shoulder pain. Over the course of a year, that number increases to 30-67% of all Americans who struggle with neck or shoulder pain. Women, and those from 30-50 years old, tend to have the highest incidence of neck pain. Men over 50 tend to have the highest incidence of shoulder pain. This is unfortunately, a very common problem, and if you are currently suffering with neck or shoulder pain, you are not alone. Risk factors that increase the chances of neck and shoulder pain include: obesity, smoking, poor posture, stress, repetitive motions, and improper vision correction. These are only a few main risk factors, but obviously there are many more reasons such as falls, car accidents, sports injuries, arthritis and muscle strains that can lead to shoulder and neck pain as well. Since neck and shoulder pain are so commonplace, it is helpful to have some “home remedies” to try first before seeking professional help. The following list of 7 suggestions are things you can try to manage your symptoms, but please do not ignore severe injuries, and when in doubt, always error on the side of having a professional check you out. Remember that you can be seen by a Physical Therapist in Virginia without a Physician referral, so if you need help, you can call us directly and not wait to get a referral from your family MD or specialist. Give some of these tips a try and see what a difference some simple changes can make to your neck and shoulder pain. To Your Health,
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Dr. Tobin Forbus Doctor of Physical Therapy
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