Neck pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out chiropractic care, as it can disrupt your daily life and cause chronic pain down the road if gone untreated. More than 50% of the population is affected by neck pain annually, which can lead to debilitating pain, headaches, arm pain, and eventually numbness, tingling, and weakness.
In today’s article, we’ll discuss how neck pain occurs, the ways it can impact your life, and how chiropractic care can help treat it.
How Neck Pain Occurs
As we mentioned earlier, over 50% of the population suffers from neck pain annually.
Our neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. The cervical spine allows for your head to move in nearly every direction. However, this flexibility makes your neck very susceptible to pain and injury.
There are many reasons neck pain may occur, and one of the first things Dr. Doug or Dr. Michael from ProActive Health will do during your appointment is identify the root cause of the pain to build a plan around your treatment.
Let’s explore some of the most common causes of neck pain:
- Chronic postural stress associated with head flexion from prolonged computer and electronic device usage.
- Poor slouched posture and the associated muscle spasm and joint irritation.
- Poor sleeping posture: stomach sleeping with the head twisted to one side for extended periods.
- Trauma from whiplash injuries in car accidents or sports injuries.
- Carrying a heavy bag/purse for prolonged periods of time.
- Inactivity and associated stiffness and increased muscle tension and muscle spasm.
- Wear and tear and degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, cervical disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, and cervical disc herniations.
How Neck Can Impact Your Life
People often assume that neck pain will go away naturally, and though this can be true in some cases, leaving it untreated could lead to chronic pain. Neck pain can not only cause stiffness, discomfort, and muscle pain, but it can also impact your daily life.
Neck pain can inevitably lead to you experiencing sleepless nights, and getting a good night’s rest is important to your overall health. Studies have shown that not getting the proper amount of sleep can lower your life expectancy and increase stress.
Not only does it affect your sleep, but it can also cause your head’s range of motion to suffer as well. This can make the simplest of tasks harder and cause you to be more irritated, stressed, and restless.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
We’re a bit biased when treating neck pain with chiropractic care, but countless studies prove chiropractic care is one of the best ways to treat neck, back, knee, and muscle pains.
When seeing one of our chiropractors for neck pain, we first start out with a gentle and non-invasive therapy known as a chiropractic adjustment—these adjustments aid in reducing joint pain and misalignments in the spine and other joints in your body. Over time you’ll notice an improvement in the function and mobility of the affected area as your body is better equipped to manage the discomfort and pain in your neck.
Visit us at ProActive Health today to “Align Your Spine, Realign Your Life!”
Ready to see a chiropractor, whether for the first time or as someone looking to visit a new chiropractic office? Dr. Doug Patterson or Dr. Michael Hummer at ProActive Health is the top choice in the Michiana area! They will help guide you in developing a plan to tackle a routine exercise plan, consuming the right foods, and targeting your goals with chiropractic care.
Dr. Doug Patterson hurt his back in 1993 thus he first sought the care of a Chiropractor. After this experience, he decided he wanted to help people himself by pursuing chiropractic. He is a 1997 graduate of the Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, Georgia, and has been in practice for 25+ years. Since then, Dr. Doug has expanded his field of practice to include functional medicine, science-based nutrition, and now certified in Shockwave Therapy. Schedule a visit with Dr. Doug at ProActive Health today!
Dr. Michael Hummer is native to northern Indiana, Michael Hummer grew up very active and found great enjoyment playing football, rugby, and wrestling. Michael earned his undergraduate degree in Dietetics at Ashland University where as a student-athlete he was a member of the varsity wrestling team. After graduation, he went on to become a personal trainer, and through his passion for both fitness and nutrition, he helped people to achieve their own goals and acquire greater health and wellness. At the same time, Michael also enjoyed working with and inspiring the local youth throughout his community through his dedication as a volunteer wrestling coach. Now, student doctor, Hummer is nearing the end of his graduate curriculum and will soon earn his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Logan University. In this new chapter Michael is excited to apply his education and versatile skillset in aiding the community as they strive for greater health and happiness. Dr. Michael is now certified in Shockwave Therapy. Schedule a visit with Dr. Mike at ProActive Health today!
