Do you suffer from neck pain?

Do you regularly experience neck pain? Do you feel it when you get up in the morning or at the end of the day? Is it accompanied by shoulder and back pain or headaches?

Take the time to educate yourself

There are many causes to neck pain such as a lack of flexibility in the neck, bad posture and tensions. Osteoarthritis (wear and tear of the spine) may develop over time, along with pain and stiffness. These symptoms may be relieved and controlled with treatment and appropriate exercises.

Holding a bad posture for an extended period of time or exposure to a draft may cause you to develop acute wryneck or torticollis. This is produced by a muscle spasm that creates a blockage, causing the neck to remain stuck in an abnormal position.

In a car accident, the victim’s head receives a whiplash like movement causing excessive stretching of the neck muscles and ligaments, resulting in a cervical sprain.

Neck problems are an important factor in the appearance of headaches, which cause a great deal of discomfort to people who suffer from them and detract from their quality of life.

Possible Causes

Neck pain is a complex issue. It may have various plausible origins, such as:

• Poor sitting and/or standing posture
• Poor work practices
• A fall or accident
• A degenerative disease

Evaluation and Treatment

After conducting an evaluation, your physiotherapist will advise you of any problems detected and discuss with you the goals and probable duration of treatment. The physiotherapist will select the treatments best suited to your condition: heat or ice, stretching and strengthening exercises, massage, traction, manual therapy or electrotherapy.

If necessary, the physiotherapist may recommend that you consult an occupational therapist to increase your strength and tolerance through a gradual re-education program. Your return to work may be made easier by simulating work tasks and learning appropriate work postures under an occupational therapist’s supervision.

Do you have persistent acute pain or do you suffer from regularly occurring pain that is gradually getting stronger? Prevent it from getting worse or becoming chronic: ask your physiotherapist or occupational therapist for advice, exercises, and appropriate treatment.

Consult a physiotherapist or occupational therapist

They can:

• Teach you about your condition
• Teach you an exercise program you can do at home
• Provide you with suitable treatment

Don’t forget the basic rules:

• Do stretching exercises.
• Watch your posture.
• Place your work within easy reach.