1 in 5 Canadians suffers from chronic pain, much of which is located in the back and neck. Whether you're dealing with arthritis or a pulled muscle, neck pain is often enough to prevent you from performing your regular day to day activities. In today's post, we'll look at some of the most common treatments for neck pain.
What works for one person might not work for the next. Keep reading, and you'll have seven methods to try and treat your neck pain and enjoy more comfort in your life.
1. Stretching Exercises
There are a couple of really good stretches you can do to deal with minor neck pain. A neck rotation, for example, can be done multiple times per day in a seated or standing position.
Wrap a rolled-up towel around your neck. Sit or stand looking straight ahead and retract and then extend your neck using the towel as support. Be gentle, do not force the movement and repeat the movement pattern several times.
2. Heat and Ice Therapy
Heat and ice therapy is important for back and neck pain. Ice helps to reduce inflammation, while heat can relax tense muscles in the neck. When you have time, alternate ice and heat for 20 minutes each - do it as many times as possible during the day.
3. Medication for Neck Pain
OTC medications may be helpful to reduce neck pain. If pain is more severe, you may wish to consult with your medical physician for prescription medicine.
4. Yoga
Neck and back pain often result from the way we treat our bodies. If you sit at a desk all day or perform physical labour, you need to give your body some relief.
One of the best ways to do this is by practicing yoga. Specifically, Hatha and restorative yoga poses are gentle and beneficial for alleviating neck pain.
5. Massage Therapy
An appointment with an RMT will help you take a more active approach to neck pain relief. A massage will alleviate muscle tension and improve blood flow in the neck. It can also improve your posture and lessen stiffness, so you can prevent neck pain in the future.
6. Chiropractic Treatment
If you suffer from a musculoskeletal disorder or a neck injury, chiropractic treatment might be in order. An experienced chiropractor can use a range of techniques to deal with neck pain, targeting the root cause rather than focusing solely on alleviating pain. The end result is prolonged pain relief.
7. Physiotherapy
Following a full assessment, a physiotherapist will commonly prescribe specific exercises to alleviate pain and stiffness in addition to treating with various modalities and manual therapies.
Trying the Common Treatments for Neck Pain
Some of these common treatments for neck pain you can try at home. For more intense neck pain, and treatment like massage therapy, physiotherapy, or chiropractic treatment, you'll need to book an appointment with us.
At Northgate Physiotherapy, Chiropractic & Massage Therapy Centre, we've been helping Calgarians move better and feel better over the years. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get on the road to recovery from your neck pain.