You’re playing sports and you get hit in the head or neck. Your head and neck whip back and forth violently during a car accident. These are just a few of the scenarios where you might suddenly experience neck pain.
Neck pain is a common issue among U.S. adults, and medical research shows that 54% of people have had neck pain in the past six months. Working with a physical therapist is one way to determine the cause of your sudden neck pain. In addition, a physical therapist can help you find top-notch treatment options for your neck pain.
Three issues that can cause sudden neck pain
A variety of problems can trigger neck pain at any moment, and physical therapists can evaluate your neck to determine the issue you have. A few of the neck problems your evaluation may uncover are:
- Pinched cervical nerve — There are many nerves that branch off the spinal cord in your neck. These nerves are called cervical nerves. When one of these nerves is pinched, it can lead to sudden, shocklike pain.
- Muscle strain — Sudden head or neck movements can overstretch a neck muscle. This is known as a muscle strain. Poor posture and repetitive movements can also lead to a neck muscle strain.
- Whiplash — This condition occurs when your head and neck move violently back and forth during a car accident. The sudden and explosive movement of whiplash can trigger a sharp ache in your neck. It can also cause damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons and other neck soft tissue.
How can physical therapy help treat sudden neck pain?
If you’ve suddenly developed an ache in your neck, there are many ways physical therapists can help you. Some of the techniques your therapist may use to treat your neck include:
- Cupping therapy designed to improve blood flow to healing soft tissue.
- Therapeutic exercises intended to stretch and strengthen injured neck muscles.
- Myofascial release that focuses on breaking up myofascial trigger points that cause neck stiffness and pain.
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) that can break up scar tissue that’s limiting neck muscle flexibility.
Find effective treatment for your sudden neck pain at Whatcom PT
Need to find effective help for your sudden neck pain? Our team at Whatcom Physical Therapy is prepared to help you treat your pain. We offer free screenings that can identify the cause of your neck pain. Also, our physical therapists excel at constructing unique therapy plans designed to reduce pain and prevent future neck issues. We can even help you treat your pain without leaving home if you sign up for a virtual therapy session with us.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat your neck pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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