MAY 2018 The Therapy Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body LIFE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A PAIN IN THE NECK
Having frequent headaches and neck pain can literally be a pain in the neck, make you less happy and less productive in life. Why do you have that pain in your neck? More often than not it is caused by a muscle or joint problem. Poor posture in the upper neck area can often contribute to headaches, migraines and neck pain. When you look in the mirror do you notice that you have a forward head posture or does your head look a little shifted off to the side, not in alignment with your neck? Where Radiating Headaches Come From Differentproblemswiththeneckmovementwillcausepain tobefelt indifferent areas. For example did you know that if your pain radiates to the forehead or behind the eyes, this can be from “stuck” joints at the top of your neck? Poor movement causes stresses and strains on surrounding muscle and tissue causing irritation thataffects thenerves in thearea.Thenext leveldown,called C2, will often radiate pain to the side of the face / head and back scalp area. Finding the Root of the Problem To narrow the source of the problem, it is important to find out if your pain worsens towards the end of the day or is first thing in the morning. Pain at the end of the day and a complaint of a “heavy head” feeling is an indicator of spinal muscleweakness and spine instability.Theneckand shoulder muscles just can’t tolerate the weight of the head (about the weight of a bowling ball) with daily activities, tiring quickly. Pain in the morning that may radiate to the shoulders or down the arms can be associated with the discs between your neck bones (vertebrae), especially if that pain is radiating. What is the best course of action?The best solution if you have neck pain or headaches is to see a physical therapist. Our physical therapists are experts in evaluating your neck joints and muscles. We help you return the normal movement of your neck joints and muscles gently and safely, relieving your pain.
Inside: • Why Do You Have Neck Pain? • No Doctor Referral Necessary • Patient Success Spotlight
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