Neck Pain Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy for Neck Injuries

Everyone has woken up with a sore neck from time to time. Neck pain can be painful, frustrating and affect several aspects of your daily life, from looking over your shoulder while driving to turning your head to look at someone. The good news is that it is rarely serious and can resolve quickly if you do the right things.

A common cause of chronic neck pain may be sustained posture, and neck and upper back pain is commonly felt in those with sedentary jobs. However, it is not limited to office workers, it can be experienced by anyone who is in one posture for a significant time, such as those who drive a lot, cyclists or wicket-keepers, or even those who sleep on their stomach. Our necks have a good range of flexibility compared to other joints in our body. This is made possible by the anatomy of our spine. The neck is made up of many small joints which means it can easily move in several directions. Sustained positions may cause stretching and shortening off the connective tissues within the neck, resulting in pain, stiffness and loss of function.

Whiplash injuries are a common cause of acute neck pain. Whiplash is a neck sprain in which the ligaments and muscles of the neck that connect the spine are suddenly overstretched. Pain and stiffness may take a few hours or days to develop after this type of injury. It is often caused by sudden impact or sudden stopping. The psychological stress that often accompanies a car accident or significant trauma can also impact on the complex nature of some whiplash injuries.

The sudden onset of severe neck pain accompanied by spasm of the neck muscles is often referred to as a Wry Neck, it can cause the neck to be stuck in an odd position, often bent or twisted away from the painful side. It most commonly occurs after a sudden movement, usually rotation. This common one-sided condition, is thought to be a protective mechanism of the body to safeguard the neck. The precise cause of an acute wry neck is not fully understood, but it may be the result of a minor injury or simply sleeping with the neck in an unusual position.

Most neck pain is caused by stiff joints and protective muscle spasm. Therefore the neck often responds well to gentle stretches, movement and heat. Sometimes people may experience headaches or migraines with neck pain, but tingling or numbness especially down an arm may mean that there is some involvement of the nerves. This could simply be as a result of the muscle spasm, or from another source such as a disc problem.

Your physiotherapist will explain your injury and what they can do to help you.

Call (02) 8970 8215 or Book Online and have your neck injury treated by a qualified Physiotherapist