Neck Pain!

Chiropractic care is a nonsurgical treatment option that may help reduce your neck pain and related symptoms. These are some of the common conditions that Chiropractors may help with:

  • Cervical intervertebral disc injuries that don’t require surgery
  • Cervical sprain injuries
  • Degenerative joint syndrome of the neck (e.g. facet joints)
  • Facet joint sprain
  • Whiplash
  • Slipped Disc (Lumbar Disc Herniation)

How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose and Treat Neck Pain?

The chiropractor will evaluate your spine as a whole because other regions of the neck (cervical), mid back (thoracic) and low back (lumbar) may be affected as well. Along with treating the spine as a whole, chiropractors treat the “whole person,” not just your specific symptoms. He or she may educate you on nutrition, stress management and lifestyle goals in addition to how to treat neck pain.

Before deciding which approach to try for your pain, the chiropractor will do a thorough examination to diagnose the specific cause of your neck pain. The practitioner will determine any areas of restricted movement and will look at how you walk as well as your overall posture and spinal alignment. Doing these things can help your chiropractor understand your body mechanics.

In addition to the physical exam, you’ll also go through your past medical history with the chiropractor. The Chiropractor may order imaging tests (e.g. an X-Ray or MRI) to help diagnose the exact cause of your neck pain.

Your chiropractor will also identify a neck pain condition that will require surgery and will write you the appropriate referral.

All these steps in the diagnostic process will give your chiropractor more information about your neck pain, which will help your chiropractor create a treatment plan customized for you.

By Perth Chiropractor Cheran Ruben

If you are looking for a Chiropractor to help you today, feel free to contact us on (08) 9321 1964

References
The Effect of Adding Forward Head Posture Corrective Exercises
in the Management of Lumbosacral Radiculopathy:
A Randomized Controlled Study
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015 (Feb 19)

Recurrent Neck Pain and Headaches in Preadolescents Associated
with Mechanical Dysfunction of the Cervical Spine: A Cross-Sectional
Observational Study With 131 Students
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2009 (Oct);   32 (8):   625—634.

Chiropractic Clinical Practice Guideline: Evidence-based Treatment
of Adult Neck Pain Not Due to Whiplash
J Canadian Chiro Assoc 2005 (Sep);   49 (3):   158–209.

Commentary on the United Kingdom Evidence Report
About the Effectiveness of Manual Therapies
Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010 (Feb 25);   18 (1):   4.