12 October Head & Neck

Physiotherapy For Neck Pain: 5 Effective Treatments

Posted by MVMT Team

Neck pain is one of the most common types of pain that people experience. According to the Arthritis Foundation, almost 70 percent of people will experience neck pain at some point.

Whether you’re an office worker who spends most of the day stooped over a desk or an athlete who regularly experiences tense and strained muscle tissues, sooner or later you may develop neck discomfort.

Physiotherapists can help you control your neck pain once and for all with the right physical therapy interventions. With a wide range of individualized treatment plans available for neck discomfort, it’s important to understand which works best for your particular condition. First, let’s take a look at what are the common causes of neck pain.

Risk Factors That May Lead to Neck Pain

  • Occupational injuries
  • Sports injuries
  • Other complex injuries
  • Arthritic conditions
  • Muscle tension
  • Acute injuries
  • Craniocervical conditions
  • Inflamed tissues
  • Connective tissue damage
  • Problems with cervical spine
  • Temporo-mandibular joint disorder
  • Abnormal movement patterns

Below we have outlined five common hands-on treatment options, self-management techniques, and therapeutic exercises to assist you in getting the most out of a physiotherapy appointment.

1. First Off, Ask Questions

To help you get the most out of your therapy session, ask your physiotherapist in St Albert a few questions before you sit down.

Inquire about the therapy you’ll be receiving, as well as about the duration of the treatment that you’ll be expected to continue with the treatments.

Although many physio treatments have little to no side effects, make sure to ask the physiotherapist if any, in addition to what to do if there are any complications.

By asking these questions in advance, you can avoid misunderstandings or surprises in the future and ensure that you’re receiving the best therapy available tailored to your situation.

Having an idea of what to expect throughout your treatment is also helpful. If you’re going for manual techniques such as the Graston technique, soft tissue mobilization techniques, and spinal manipulation, for instance, you will need to know the level of stress that your physiotherapist is likely to apply.

In general, you can feel some stress during therapy, but it shouldn’t be painful.

2. Stretching Exercises With a Physiotherapist

There are many different kinds of effective treatments for neck pain, and one of the most successful is stretching exercises. This sort of physiotherapy treatment really helps to strengthen your muscles and tissues while additionally enhancing your flexibility and also improving your range of motion.

While it’s not a treatment that can be done once, stretching workouts are created to be a lasting solution to your neck pain. You can perform these workouts at home, or your physiotherapist can suggest certain workouts that you can do while you’re at work or on the move.

If you’re coping with neck discomfort because of poor posture, extending workouts can help your posture while also boosting your overall health and wellness. By carrying out these simple neck pain exercises regularly, you can help prevent future spells of neck pain and additionally boost your quality of life.

3. Warm and Cold Compresses

While cold and warm packs can be very helpful for a wide variety of injuries, they are significantly beneficial for dealing with neck discomfort. Depending upon the cause of your pain, your physiotherapist might suggest that you apply a hot or cold compress. 

For example, if your pain is caused by muscle tightness or swelling, making use of an ice pack might be recommended. If your discomfort is caused by a pinched nerve, making use of a heating pack might be advised, since heat can help to relax your muscle mass as well as decrease any kind of inflammation in the area. Some clients with persistent discomfort find that rotating between warm and cold therapy at different intervals helps to maintain their pain from escalating.

Your physiotherapist should be able to advise you about the best time to use each type of treatment.

4. Ultrasound or TENS Devices

If you’ve been struggling with recurring discomfort for an extensive amount of time, your physiotherapist might recommend TENS treatment. This kind of therapy makes use of electrodes to deliver low-voltage electric currents through your muscles, which can help to relax them. 

Depending upon your discomfort and where it lies, your physiotherapist might put the electrodes on your back or your neck. While TENS therapies can be extremely beneficial, they’re generally considered the last option when other types of treatment have failed to deliver any kind of alleviation. By using these therapies over a long-term period, you can help to avoid future pain in your neck as well as boost your general health and wellness.

5. Acupuncture

As you’re handling neck pain, acupuncture can help reduce stress in your muscular tissues and improve your blood flow. While acupuncture is more commonly used for chronic pain, it can also be utilized for more short-term pain.

Acupuncture treatments can be used for all sorts of discomfort. Before recommending a detailed treatment plan, your physiotherapist must determine what sort of neck pain you have, to make sure that you can find the most ideal treatment.

Final Thoughts

Ongoing neck discomfort can be devastating, but luckily our advanced treatment technology can soothe your discomfort. At MVMT Physio & Chiro, you can speak with our treatment providers, and discuss your pain. Depending on your condition, we can suggest a range of treatments that are most suitable for your symptoms. Proudly serving the St Albert community with a combined experience of many years, you can ultimately put your trust in us.

Contact us today and we can begin relieving your neck pain. Now scheduling new appointments!

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