Head and neck pain can keep you from enjoying tons of things in your life, such as spending time with family and friends or participating in fun outdoor activities you love.
Chronic pain in the head or neck should not be ignored. When you’re dealing with consistent pain, it becomes difficult to concentrate. This can have a negative effect on your personal relationships, your career, and more.
Are you growing frustrated as time passes because of your inability to put a stop to your neck pain on your own? Have you been struggling to comfortably go about your business because of headaches or discomfort in your neck?
If your answer is yes, there’s a good chance physical therapy at Austin Manual Therapy in Austin, TX could be your best option!
How is neck pain related to our heads?
The most common cause of neck or head pain is a muscle or joint problem. Not all head and neck pain is the same, however, so understanding the basics of what you are dealing with is the first step to achieving relief.
Migraines can be caused by environmental factors, food allergies or even as a result of stress. There are also headaches that can develop due to sinus pain, dehydration or prolonged exposure to loud sounds.
There is no singular fix for each type of headache, which is why attempting to treat every headache you experience with the same medication frequently doesn’t work.
One of the most common causes of headaches, that are easily treatable with physical therapy, is radiating tension headaches. These are caused by stress in the joints and muscles of the neck, most often at the base of the skull.
These headaches can develop as a result of faulty posture, lack of movement, and stiffness in the neck. This buildup of irritation can be treated with regular physical therapy, especially through the use of massage, strengthening and flexibility exercises that target the muscles in the neck and shoulder girdle.
Common neck pain conditions
A study published by the National Library of Medicine states, “Neck pain, whether from a traumatic event such as a motor vehicle crash or of a non-traumatic nature, is a leading cause of worldwide disability.”
In many situations, pain that develops in the neck can be associated with one of two major problems. The first is upper-back pain that begins to radiate into the neck. The second is arthritis.
Cervical arthritis causes frequent aches in the neck and shoulders. This pain is generally worse when there are sudden changes in weather or at the end of the day, and while over-the-counter medication may make the pain less severe, it won’t eliminate the pain entirely.
Pain from this condition will typically cause a loss of range of motion in the neck, which increases your risk of injury as a result of a sudden movement and can cause regular discomfort and frustration.
The good news is that physical therapy can be used to address both types of neck pain and help you to return to living a more full, active lifestyle!
Physical therapy can get you back to feeling 100%
Have you noticed that your strength levels feel low or that it isn’t as easy for you to move in certain ways? The majority of neck and head pain can be helped with one simple strategy: strength building.
Oftentimes, head or neck pain is a result of poor posture or repetitive microtrauma to the joints in the neck. Building core strength, as well as strength in the neck, can make a huge difference in your ability to handle tasks without experiencing chronic pain.
Physical therapy in Austin, TX provides long-term relief from pain by correcting the joint or muscle concern with targeted therapies like flexibility exercises, muscle strengthening techniques, and guided stretches that target core joints and muscles.
Effectiveness of physical therapy for neck pain
In another study published by the National Library of Medicine, titled “Effectiveness of physical therapy for patients with neck pain – an individualized approach using a clinical decision-making algorithm” a group of 30 patients dealing with neck pain completed physical therapy treatment. Another group of 27 patients with neck pain was used as the controlled variant, and they did not receive PT for their condition.
The study explains that “after an average 4 wk of physical therapy intervention, patients in the treatment group demonstrated statistically significant increases of cervical range of motion, decrease of pain, increases of physical performance measures, and decreases in the level of disability. The control group showed no differences in all five outcome variables between the initial and follow-up test scores.”
Working with a physical therapist will ensure that you are practicing safe techniques to find relief and return to a comfortable lifestyle. An Austin Manual therapist can help you to identify the cause of the trouble and begin taking steps to correct the issue, allowing you to find relief from the pain without having to commit to medication for symptom management.
Let’s get started on recovery…
If you’ve noticed you’ve been turning down offers to do the things you love with your family and friends because of chronic pain in your neck, this means there’s a problem begging to be addressed!
Don’t accept pain as your new normal. It doesn’t matter what age you are, you deserve to live comfortably while enjoying your hobbies and daily activities.
If you’re living with pain, contact Austin Manual Therapy in Austin, TX today to learn more about how one of our skilled physical therapists can help you manage your symptoms, recover from painful injuries or conditions, and start moving with ease.
