When you are looking for treatment for neck pain, you want a solution that works and works quickly. Surgery, Medication, Electrical Stimulation and Physical Therapy are all options that can provide you some relief. Different options will work better or worse for different Types of Neck Pain. But Physical Therapy is one of the most comprehensive and effective ways to relieve your neck pain. Here are the six things a physical therapist will do to relieve your Neck Pain:
1. Stretches. If you are having neck pain, it is likely there is some some of musculoskeletal dysfunction going on. That means your muscles and the bones of your joints are not moving freely enough for you to get proper range of motion. They may also be causing pressure on your nerves. By stretching you can get the muscles of your neck to move into the right place and release the tension that may be causing you pain.
Learn the Best Stretches for Neck Pain
2. Exercises for strength and posture. Postural deficits are common for those suffering from Neck Pain. But if you put the neck in the right postural alignment you still have to support it. We do this through exercise, but not just any exercise. When a physical therapist prescribes you exercises, she is doing so with the expertise of years of training mixed with your unique needs. These exercises are meant to minimize your pain and maximize your long term benefit.
3. Manual Therapy. One way that a physical therapist is going to identify your deficits and be able to prescribe you the best personalized course of care is through manual therapy. Your physical therapist will use active and passive range of motion assessments and be able to treat these by activating and relaxing targeted muscles. Manual therapy is one of the strongest tools a physical therapist has to relieve your neck pain.
4. Traction. Manual therapy can be used for traction, but so too can a traction table. These tables allow you to work with your Physical Therapist to get relief from neck pain by elongating your neck and opening up the spaces in between your vertebrae. Traction is one way a physical therapist can get you immediate relief from your neck pain.
5. Modalities. Ice, Heat, and Ultrasound are three commonly used modalities that help us loosen your muscles and joints without having to put too much stress or strain on your neck. We may use ice or heat, for example, depending on how new (acute) or old (chronic) your pain is and what you can tolerate. This is meant to encourage blood flow and movement of your joints.
Learn when to use Ice or Heat for Neck Pain
6. Education. Education of your condition is really important, especially once we understand the type of neck pain you are suffering from. Treatment of your neck pain is the focus of your Physical Therapist, but you have to be actively involved to get the relief from neck pain you are seeking. By learning about what caused your neck pain and how you can relieve your neck pain you get the most from therapy. If you have been suffering from neck pain for an extended period, pain neuroscience education will likely be a vital component of your treatment. Pain neuroscience education focuses on teaching you about your pain sensors and what they are telling your brain. If you can learn to control these, you can reduce the intensity of your pain quickly and efficiently.
These six things are almost always used in combination with one another. The beauty of a custom plan of care that is built for your needs and your response to the treatment of your neck pain, is that your physical therapist can tailor your plan to you. You get the most out of PT and you get back to the life you love. When it comes to neck pain relief, remember, it's Your Health, Your Choice.
-FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City provides orthopedic physical therapy in Lakeside, The Village, Nichols Hills and surrounding NW Oklahoma City. Our physical therapists are specially trained to treat all types of pain, movement disorders, and musculoskeletal dysfunction including incontinence after radical prostatectomy in men. Our practitioners take a patient-centered individualized approach that focuses on your pelvic health needs. If you are unsure about your pelvic health, or you want to see the FYZICAL Difference for yourself, schedule a free consultation today.