Quality shoulder and neck pain treatment: Neck pain can make everyday activities like driving and sitting at a computer very difficult. It often comes along with other symptoms, like muscle tightness, spasms, headaches, numbness, tingling and stiffness. Your pain may get worse when you hold your head in the same position for more than a few seconds. Finding relief soon is important — neck pain can turn into a chronic issue, which is pretty common: 50% to 85% of adults over 21 never completely get rid of their symptoms. Fortunately, there are a few different treatments and lifestyle adjustments that can help you start to feel better. Targeted stretching exercises — Overextending your neck can be dangerous. Your physical therapist can show you neck stretches that are safe and target the specific pain you’re feeling. See additional info on neck pain.
Chronic pain is a health issue affecting individuals globally. Unlike pain that arises from a specific injury and typically fades as the injury heals, chronic pain lingers for extended periods ranging from weeks to years. This persistent condition can have an impact on one’s quality of life. Thankfully physical therapy provides approaches to effectively manage pain by aiming to alleviate discomfort, enhance mobility and boost overall well being. Exercise plays a pivotal role in therapy to help manage chronic pain. Firstly, customized exercise programs are designed by therapists to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and improve fitness. Additionally, these routines may involve exercises for strength training and stretching exercises tailored to individual needs.
Arthritis, a condition marked by pain and stiffness, benefits significantly from physical therapy. This treatment method helps in managing arthritis symptoms by incorporating personalized exercises and techniques, thus enhancing joint mobility and reducing discomfort. Furthermore, these approaches not only help alleviate discomfort but also enhance overall joint function. Approaches: Engaging in impactful activities to boost heart health and joint flexibility. Participating in strength training programs that help stabilize joints. Utilizing joint mobilization methods to combat stiffness and increase range of motion. Exploring heat therapies as part of pain management strategies.
While managing chronic pain may indeed pose challenges, nonetheless, with the right strategies, it is possible to effectively alleviate and control pain levels. Additionally, physical therapy provides tailored approaches to addressing the causes of pain, thereby ultimately supporting long-term health goals for each patient. Moreover, by combining physical therapy with therapies such as occupational therapy, individuals can experience substantial enhancements in their overall well-being. Many everyday activities and unconscious behaviors can lead to neck pain, such as a slouched posture while working on your computer or turning your head too quickly as you reverse your car. But a common cause of neck pain is something that’s essential for our health and well-being: sleep. Find a lot more information at shoulderneckpain.com.
Position adjustments — It’s important that your neck is properly supported while you sleep to reduce the strain on the muscles, and that often comes down to the position of your body. A physical therapist can suggest sleeping positions that can help reduce your current neck pain while decreasing pain in the future. They can also help you make postural adjustments that can reduce neck pain while you sit, stand and walk as well. Manual therapy — One of the most effective courses of action for neck pain is manual therapy, which is hands-on treatment by a physical therapist. A common manual therapy technique for neck pain is soft tissue mobilization, which involves the therapist using their hands to find and break up the tight muscle knots that are contributing to your pain and stiffness. If you’re consistently waking up with neck pain, talk to your doctor about possible conditions or injuries that could be causing your symptoms.
Once you learn how to properly engage in stretching and exercise routines, it is helpful to take them home with you. Your therapist will craft a home exercise program for consistent strength-building and pain relief so that you can maintain your progress between clinic visits. Some programs may require inexpensive, accessible equipment, while others use common household objects. Pain Management and Tissue Mobilization – Is your pain currently too intense to jump into strength and flexibility exercises? Pain relief precedes stretching and moving if you have these limitations. Why not work with a physical therapist to choose a strategy that best reduces pain for you? Therapeutic options for neck pain may include: Electrical stimulation: A device sends electrical pulses into the injured tissues to stimulate healing and ease aches. Ultrasound therapy: Directing ultrasound waves into injured tissues reduces pain and swelling for some patients. Acupuncture: Systematically puncturing the skin with tiny needles can ease discomfort and enhance blood flow to targeted areas.