Four reasons people need physical therapy for neck pain

Neck Pain Treatment

We’ve all experienced the pain of a sore neck at one point or another in our lives. Sore necks are often a mild nuisance that requires little more than some rest and home remedies for treatment. Then there is severe neck pain.

Severe neck pain is often the sign of a serious condition. When left untreated these conditions can lead to further pain and cause permanent disability. That’s why if you have neck pain that is severe, long-lasting or accompanied by other symptoms, you should contact a healthcare professional for treatment.

Treating neck pain with physical therapy

The physical therapists at Whatcom Physical Therapy are healthcare professionals who can treat all kinds of conditions that cause neck pain. Many of our treatments focus on strengthening and stretching the muscles and tendons in your neck to help provide support and reduce pressure and pain.

Neck pain has many causes that can be determined by a thorough examination of your symptoms and potential sources of pain. Some of the most common types of neck pain that physical therapists help treat include:

  1. Muscle strain — Poor posture or overuse can cause the muscle in your neck to stretch or tear. This causes pain not only in your muscles but in your spine as well, which has to compensate for the lack of support from your muscles.

  2. Herniated disc — Soft discs rest between the vertebrae in your neck to help keep your vertebrae from rubbing against one another and wearing down. One of these discs can burst or slip, which puts pressure on the nerve running through your neck.

  3. Arthritis — Arthritis In your spine can cause the cartilage in your neck to wear down, which allows the bones to rub together. Furthermore, arthritis can cause the entire spinal column to grow more narrow, which puts a lot of pressure on the nerve.

  4. Fracture — Blunt impact and weakened bones from osteoporosis can cause partial or complete fractures in different parts of your neck. Severe fractures may need surgery for treatment.

Contact Whatcom Physical Therapy for neck pain treatment

The physical therapists at Whatcom Physical Therapy can help treat the conditions listed above and much more. Contact us today if you’re suffering from neck pain and find out what we can do to help reduce your pain and improve your quality of life.