Chiropractic Neck Pain Treatment

Chiropractic treatment is an approach used to manipulate the joints and spine to relieve neck pain. The procedure can also relieve back pain. Chiropractic care is a popular therapy that doesn’t involve the use of medicine. People who experience neck pain often go for chiropractic treatment. Recent research shows that 8% of American adults and more than 3% of children have undergone chiropractic neck pain treatment. The person who offers Chiropractic care is called a Chiropractor.

Neck Pain

Note that neck pain can have a range of causes. The neck’s susceptibility to pain and injury is as simple as biomechanics. There are some activities and events that can affect your cervical biomechanics including extended sitting, accidents, repetitive movement, falls, and blows to the head/body, aging, and day-to-day wear and tear. Disease can also cause neck pain.

How Chiropractic Neck Treatment can Help

For neck pain, chiropractic treatments or adjustments, loosen the joints in cervical vertebrae in the neck. This reduces any pain caused by muscle spasms and pinched nerves. After performing exams to determine the source of the pain, your chiropractor may use his/her hands to twist your neck sharply and realign the vertebrae. He/she will ask questions about the symptoms you are feeling and the solutions you may have tried. Your chiropractor can ask questions like:

• When did the neck pain begin?
• Have you done anything to make your neck pain go away?
• Does the pain travel to other areas of your body?
• Is there anything that makes the pain worse or better?

Your chiropractic caregiver will conduct both physical and neurological exams to determine the cause of your pain. During the physical exam, he/she will observe your posture, physical condition, and range of motion, to determine the movement that causes the neck pain. Your spine will also be checked to determine its curvature and alignment. This is also done to check muscle spasm. The chiropractor will also check if your shoulder is in order. As part of the neurological examination, your muscle strength, reflexes, and other nerve changes to see how pain spreads would be studied.

In some cases, your chiropractor may order some tests to diagnose your condition. This may include an x-ray (this can show a narrowed disc space, bone fractures, and spurs, or arthritis). A CT scan (computerized axial tomography scan) or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can indicate if you have any bulging discs or herniations. If your chiropractor suspects that you have nerve damage, he/she may order an EMG (Electromyography) test to measure the speed at which your nerves respond.

What Can a Chiropractor Do?

Doctors who render chiropractic care (chiropractors) are conservative caregivers. The scope of their practice doesn’t include using medicine or other forms of treatment like surgery. If the chiropractor discovers that your condition is outside of his/her conservative scope (including neck fracture or any sign of organic disease), he/she will refer you to the appropriate professional (medical physician or bone specialist). Your chiropractor may request permission to keep your family doctor aware of the type of care you are receiving. This will make sure everything is properly coordinated.