When you make an appointment for a chiropractic evaluation for your neck pain, your chiropractor will provide both in-office procedures and self-help approaches. As a “team”, you can manage your neck pain or headache complaint to a satisfying end-point. So, what are some of these procedures? Let’s take a look!
Goals During Chiropractic Visit
In the office, you can expect to receive a thorough history, examination, and a discussion about what chiropractic care for you and your condition. Your doctor will map out a treatment plan and discuss commonly shared goals.
- 1) Pain reduction
- 2) Posture/alignment restoration
- 3) Prevention of future episodes
Pain Reduction & Recommendations
Pain reduction approaches may include joint mobilization and/or manipulation, and muscle/ligament stretching techniques. Inflammation control by the use of physical therapy modalities (such as electrical stimulation), ice, and possibly anti-inflammatory vitamin/herbal therapies. Your chiropractor will also teach proper body mechanics for bending/lifting/pulling/pushing. This will help you avoid positions or situations where you might re-injure the area. Posture/alignment restoration can include methods such as spinal manipulation/mobilization and leg length correction strategies. These strategies include heel and/or sole lifts, special orthotic shoes, and/or foot orthotic inserts. These are often GREAT recommendations as they “work” while they are in your shoes. You don’t have to do anything except wear them!
The third goal of future episode prevention is a combination of ongoing treatments in the office and at-home strategies. This includes whether you should use ice, heat, or both at times of acute exacerbation. Avoiding positions or movements that create sharp/lancinating pain. DO THE EXERCISES that you’ve been taught ON A REGULAR BASIS. Eating an “anti-inflammatory” diet (lean meats, lots of fruits/veggies, and avoiding gluten – wheat, oats, barley, rye).
Exercising For Pain
Your chiropractor will teach you exercises that are designed to increase your range of motion (ROM). They will also re-educate a flat or reversed curve in the neck and strengthen/stabilize the muscles in the neck. Studies show that the deep neck flexor muscles are frequently weak in patients with neck pain. These muscles are NOT voluntary so you have to “trick” them into contracting with very specific exercises. Your doctor will also teach you exercises that you can do EVERY HOUR of your work day (for 10-15 seconds) that are designed to prevent neck pain from gradually worsening so you aren’t miserable by the end of work.
Along these lines, he/she will discuss the set-up of your workstation and how you might improve it – whether it’s a chair, desk, computer position, a table/workstation height issue, or a reaching problem; using proper “ergonomics” can REALLY HELP! Your doctor will also advise you not to talk on the phone pinching the receiver between your head and shoulder, to face the person you are talking to (avoiding prolonged head rotation), to tuck in your chin as a posture training exercise, and more. Cervical traction can be a GREAT home-applied, self-help strategy, and these come in many varieties. Proper positions for the head when sleeping and a properly fitted contoured pillow is also important since we spend about 1/3 of our lives asleep!
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your healthcare provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for neck pain or headaches, we would be honored to render our services.
