By Ray Gerald Phelan


Pain felt in any area of the body is a source of discomfort and may require professional care. For those suffering from neck pain, chiropractic care may be the best treatment of choice. The September 2011 issue of Consumer Reports, noted that of all healthcare providers seen for this type of pain, chiropractic treatment was rated the highest in patient satisfaction. In the US a chiropractor is the health care professional to visit for manipulation of vertebrae in the neck and cervical spine. Read more about what chiropractic can do to provide much-desired relief.

A 2003 issue of British Medical Journal discussed a research study in which 183 patients suffering from discomfort in their necks were randomly chosen for different forms of treatment. During the 52-week span involving the study, patients received treatment consisting mainly of exercise and manual therapy involving spinal manipulation, or general care that involved drug treatments, counseling, and education. Manual therapy is also called manipulation or spinal adjustments. Those who received manual therapy experienced the quickest recoveries. An additional benefit was the lowered cost of manual therapy, which was approximately one-third the cost of the other type of treatment.

Before chiropractors treat patients experiencing pain in the neck area, they determine the cause of the pain and identify all contributing factors. Once these have been isolated, they develop an appropriate treatment plan for pain elimination. Chiropractic treatment for this type of pain involves a variety of natural, safe, and non-invasive therapies. The most essential and effective treatment is chiropractic spinal adjustment, which corrects major problems experienced by most patients with pain in their necks.

Almost all people suffering from neck pain have either experienced a recent accident that damaged tissue and altered the structural integrity of the neck or have been exposed to sustained, deleterious stresses on the spine and neck due to poor posture and other improper techniques. As a result, spinal joints can be misaligned structurally and not functioning normally from a biomechanical perspective. Proper alignment of spinal segments and restoration of normal range of motion are the only long-term ways to effectively heal this condition.

Spinal manipulative therapy accomplishes these goals and also gives reflexive pain relief and muscle spasm reduction and elimination. The chiropractic treatment activates the many mechanoreceptors present in the vertebral joints. This allows messages to transmit to the brain to shut down pain signals, causing muscles to relax in response. Spinal adjustments also provide proper motion to the joints of the spine that helps to eliminate inflammation. Inflammatory chemicals associated with the condition are known to irritate pain fibers.

Chiropractors also teach patients to exhibit proper posture to maintain neck and back health. Proper lifting and telephone techniques are also explained. Patients are even provided with alternatives to repetitive motions. Each of these recommended habits and techniques is designed to prevent the back and neck from injury and discomfort.

At times, relieving the neck pain experienced by some people may involve other manual therapies including acupressure and trigger point therapy. These help to relax tight cervical musculature and increase the flexibility of the cervical spine. Chiropractic doctors may also recommend electrical muscle stimulation, therapeutic exercises, and nutritional support diet designed for optimal cervical spine and general health.




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1 comments :

Edmonton Chiropractor said...

The chiropractic treatments for neck pain incorporate the use of many therapies, all of which are gentle, safe, natural and noninvasive. However, the true power of chiropractic care is found in the chiropractic adjustment - the most effective and essential treatment employed by the chiropractor.