Category: Neck Pain

How to get relief from neck pain when working with a physical therapist
Your neck hurts every time you turn your head to talk to someone. When you pull up to a stop sign and look for traffic, your neck pain spikes. Anyone who can relate to any of these scenarios is likely desperate to learn how to get relief from neck pain.

How many people are living out such scenarios every day? Unfortunately, there are a lot. A medical survey reports that up to 79.5% of people experience neck pain in any one-year period. The high number of people living with neck pain is the biggest reason so many are trying to find out how to get relief from neck pain.

While physical therapists can’t promise to relieve your neck pain, these medical professionals offer treatment methods that can help treat your neck pain. However, there are some things you’ll need to do if you want to reduce your neck pain with physical therapy.

Three things that can help improve your chances of relieving your neck pain with PT:
1. Actually going to see a physical therapist — There are scores of people who don’t take advantage of the help physical therapists offer. One 2011 study reveals that less than 10% of the people who can benefit from physical therapy use it. Don’t fall into the category of physical therapy non-users. Increase your chances of treating neck pain successfully by going to see a physical therapist.
1. Asking your physical therapist questions — Physical therapists are motivated to help you understand the source of your neck pain. The reason? Understanding the cause of your pain can help you understand why your physical therapy is so important. In turn, this can motivate you to give 110% to your therapy program. If you don’t understand something, it’s important to ask your physical therapist about it. Asking questions can help you build your understanding and keep you more engaged in your physical therapy.
1. Making physical therapy a part of your daily routine — Often, adding physical therapy to your daily routine is how you can get relief from neck pain. Going to in-clinic sessions is vital to your treatment, but people tend to recover from neck issues faster when they put additional time into their recovery. This is the driving force behind physical therapy staples like at-home exercise programs. Such programs are created by your physical therapist to fit your needs. Additionally, doing your exercises more frequently can help reduce your pain more rapidly.
Franklin Rehab can help you find out how to get relief from neck pain

Trying to get relief from your neck pain? Our physical therapists at Franklin Rehabilitation offer treatment programs designed to help reduce neck pain. Coming to see us for a free screening is a common starting point for our patients. Our team can then create a customized physical therapy plan for you that’s intended to decrease your pain and stop it from coming back.

Contact our team today for more information about our neck pain treatment options or to schedule your initial appointment to start tackling your pain.
August 16, 2021
How to help the crick in your neck
Do you have a crick in your neck that makes going through the day uncomfortable or even painful? There can be many different causes behind a crick in the neck. This is not an uncommon problem, since many of us spend a lot of time looking at our phones or computer screens for long periods of time. There can be other causes of a crick in the neck too. Injuries or wear and tear can cause neck pain or even discomfort.

Are you wondering how to help the crick in your neck? Physical therapy can provide a safe way to loosen your neck muscles and help you feel normal again.

How physical therapy can help the crick in your neck

Physical therapy can help treat your neck problems. The treatment recommended by your physical therapist will depend on the cause of your neck crick. Your physical therapist will first perform an evaluation to determine the best treatment for you.

Some common techniques used in physical therapy for neck stiffness include:
- Ergonomic adjustments — Your posture can contribute or worsen a crick in the neck. This problem occurs when your spine isn’t straight, like when your shoulders become rounded or your neck is too far forward. If you have poor sitting or standing posture, you can develop neck issues because the muscles become strained over time. Your physical therapist will evaluate your sitting and standing posture and recommend some adjustments that can help take the pressure off of your neck.
- Soft tissue mobilization — Soft tissue mobilization is a hands-on technique. This can stimulate blood flow to the soft tissue and can help relieve tension. This can be an effective way for your physical therapist to help the crick in your neck.
- Targeted exercises — Your physical therapist can show you effective therapeutic exercises for strengthening your neck muscles. This can in turn help improve your posture. An improved posture can reduce neck tension and help with stiffness. Exercises can also help improve your neck’s range of motion and flexibility.
If you suffer from a neck crick, Armor Physical Therapy is prepared to help you recover

Life with a crick in the neck can be frustrating. Our team at Armor Physical Therapy can help you reduce the pain and discomfort caused by neck problems. We can also help restore any lost flexibility in your neck caused by your crick. We are prepared to build you a personalized treatment plan to help alleviate your symptoms.

Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat your neck crick or to schedule an initial appointment.
August 11, 2021
How to relieve a stiff neck without taking medication
Dealing with a stiff neck can put a damper on your life. Many of us spend time looking at screens like the phone and the computer, which can contribute to chronic neck stiffness. There can also be many other different causes behind a stiff neck, like labor-intensive jobs or an injury. Regardless of the underlying condition, neck discomfort shouldn’t be ignored. Medication can take your symptoms away. But physical therapy offers an effective natural way to alleviate neck stiffness. It can even reduce your pain.

Are you wondering how to relieve a stiff neck? Physical therapy can provide a safe and natural way to loosen up your neck muscles and get you back to normal again.

How physical therapy can help relieve your stiff neck

Your physical therapist will recommend a treatment plan based on the severity of your neck stiffness. The treatment plan will be designed to address your individual needs including areas of discomfort or pain. Your physical therapist will evaluate your neck. This is to determine the most effective ways to treat the underlying condition behind your stiffness. Unlike medication, which just treats the symptoms of a stiff neck, physical therapy is intended to target the cause.

Here are some common techniques used in physical therapy that target the cause of neck stiffness:
- Ergonomic adjustments — Your sitting and standing posture can impact the stiffness of your neck. Your physical therapist may evaluate your posture. This allows them to determine the appropriate adjustments you can take to relieve neck tension. Proper posture can take the pressure off your neck and help relieve a stiff neck.
- Therapeutic exercises — Your physical therapist can educate you in the most effective therapeutic exercises for strengthening your neck muscles. Low-impact exercise can stimulate your neck, which provides a relief in neck tension. This can also help improve your posture.
- Soft tissue mobilization — This technique is a form of manual therapy. It’s a hands-on technique that can stimulate blood flow to the soft tissue and can relieve neck stiffness.
Panther Physical Therapy is prepared to help relieve your stiff neck

If you’re tired of living with neck stiffness, our expert team at Panther Physical Therapy can help you find relief. We are prepared to build you a personalized treatment plan to relieve your stiff neck. This can help reduce your neck stiffness, strengthen your neck muscles and improve your posture.

Contact our team today for more information about how we can help treat your neck stiffness or to schedule an initial appointment.
August 6, 2021
Why was the loud pop in my neck followed by pain?
The short answer to this question is that you’ve injured a structure in your neck. Finding out what injury you have may require visiting a medical professional, such as a physical therapist.

Neck pain is something that many Americans are familiar with, and it’s reported that about 5.8% of women and 4% of men are feeling neck pain at any given time. Crackling and popping sounds may be normal for you, too, and are commonly known as neck crepitus. However, these sounds aren’t normal if the loud pops in your neck are followed by pain.

A physical therapist can help you figure out what injury happened when you heard the loud pop in your neck followed by pain. These specialists can help you find effective treatment for your neck pain as well.

Three neck injuries that can lead to a loud pop in your neck followed by pain:
1. Tendon or ligament injuries — Tendons and ligaments are two types of connective tissue found in your neck. Tendons attach muscles to bones, while ligaments connect bones to other bones. A sudden tear, ligament sprain or tendon strain can all lead to popping noises and trigger significant neck pain.
1. Muscle injuries — Your neck is supported and moved by a total of 26 different muscles. Putting too much strain on a neck muscle can cause a strain, and in extreme cases, the muscle may even tear, with a loud popping sound followed by pain. Often, such injuries occur during automobile accidents or while playing sports.
1. Neck joint injuries — The neck is a structure that contains many joints; these joints are known as facet joints. These structures allow your neck to bend and flex the way it does. The facet joints also contain cartilage that can tear. Such cartilage injuries can easily lead to the popping sound and pain you experienced.
Find help for your painful neck injuries at Border Therapy Services

Not sure where to turn for help after a loud pop in your neck is followed by pain? Our Border Therapy Services team is primed to help you address a wide range of painful neck injuries. Our physical therapists can start by doing a free screening on your neck for physical therapy near me to uncover the source of your pain. They can then construct a customized physical therapy plan for you that’s designed to:
- Reduce pain.
- Speed up healing.
- Improve neck mobility and flexibility.
- Decrease your risk of future neck injuries.
Contact our team today for more information about all the ways we can treat your painful neck problems or to schedule an initial appointment.
July 26, 2021
Had a stiff neck for months? These three things could be the reason why!
You go through life with your neck feeling like a plank of wood every day, and you’re tired of it. If this describes your daily life, no one would blame you for being sick of it.

Many people would even empathize with you since they also deal with neck stiffness and pain that lasts for months. Just how many people are dealing with these neck symptoms? Medical research shows that up to 50% of Americans develop neck pain annually.

People who have had a stiff and painful neck for months can find help from a physical therapist. These specialists can diagnose the cause of your symptoms, and they can help you find effective treatment for neck stiffness and pain, too.

Three factors that could be why you’ve had a stiff and painful neck for months:
1. Computer screen height — Spending hours looking at a computer screen is normal for many of us. But, how high or low your screen is could be why your neck has felt so stiff and painful. Looking down or up for hours while you’re on the computer can lead to tense, sore muscles. It’s these stiff, aching muscles that are often a source of the neck symptoms you’ve been dealing with.
1. How much you’re looking at your cellphone — Many of us also spend hours per day looking at our cellphones. Unfortunately, we usually hold it in a way that causes us to spend all that time looking downward. This position puts a lot of pressure on the neck muscles, and it can leave them feeling weak, stiff and achy.
1. Your sleeping position — This factor may be to blame for your neck stiffness and pain if you feel it when you first wake up in the morning. Some people sleep with too many or too few pillows under their head. Both positions can put your neck muscles in stressful positions all night, especially if you sleep on your side. Stomach sleepers may often sleep with their neck in poor positions as well.
Franklin Rehab is ready to help you treat the neck stiffness you’ve felt for months

Keen to get rid of the neck stiffness and aching that has plagued you for months? Our team of physical therapists at Franklin Rehabilitation is ready and willing to help you do so. We can do a free screening of your neck to pinpoint the issue or issues that are triggering your stiffness and pain. Next, our specialists can develop an individualized physical therapy plan for you that’s designed to reduce your symptoms and prevent their return.

Contact our team today for more information about our neck pain treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.
July 26, 2021
Why does my neck crack when I turn my head?
Most people have probably asked themselves why their neck cracks when they turn their head. Often, the answer is that they’re experiencing the body’s natural response to neck joint movement.

This response is called crepitus by medical professionals, and it’s the popping, crackling, grinding or snapping sounds that you hear when you move your head and neck. Fortunately, you don’t typically have to worry about crepitus when you turn your head unless you’re also feeling pain.

A physical therapist can help you learn why your neck is cracking when you turn your head. They can also assist you if you are feeling neck pain when your neck is cracking.

Three common causes of neck cracking when you turn your head

There are several factors that could be why your neck cracks when you turn your head. A few of the most common of these are:
1. Pressure changes in neck joints — The facet joints in your neck belong to a group called synovial joints. This means that they’re lubricated by synovial fluid. Tiny gas bubbles can form in this fluid, and they tend to burst when the joint is placed under more or less pressure. These pressure changes often happen when you move your neck or head into a different position.
1. Ligament or tendon movements — The ligaments and tendons in your neck are there for support, and they stretch and contract as you move. These movements can lead to crepitus when ligaments and tendons rub against each other or the bones in your neck. Often, crepitus from ligament or tendon movements is a sign that neck soft tissue is too tense. This symptom can also be a result of decreased soft tissue flexibility caused by aging.
1. Neck osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis can occur in your neck when the cartilage and other structures in the neck wear out as you age. Eventually, this condition can cause bones to rub against each other when you move. The friction between these neck bones can lead to a grinding sound and sensation, and it often leads to neck pain. People who have pain combined with crepitus should seek help from a doctor or physical therapist.
Whatcom PT can help you learn why your neck is cracking when you turn your head

Unsure why your neck cracks every time you turn your head? Our team at Whatcom Physical Therapy is eager to help you find out the answer, especially if you’re also feeling neck pain. We can determine the source of your crepitus by doing a free screening on your neck.

Then, our physical therapists can create a unique program for you that’s designed to address the source of your crepitus and pain. We can even help you right in your home if you sign up for a virtual therapy appointment with our team.

Contact our team today for more information about all the services we offer for neck problems or to schedule your initial appointment.
July 5, 2021
How can physical therapy be helpful for neck arthritis?
Neck arthritis, or cervical spondylosis, is a condition that can dramatically affect your daily life. Fortunately, physical therapy can be very helpful for managing neck arthritis.

The knowledge that physical therapy is useful for cervical spondylosis could be useful to many Americans. After all, one medical study reports that 90% of men over 50 and women over 60 have begun to develop neck arthritis. Physical therapists have many techniques that they can use to help your cervical spondylosis symptoms. These techniques can lead to significant benefits for your neck arthritis.

Three ways physical therapy can be helpful for neck arthritis

Physical therapists have an intimate understanding of the structures of your neck since they have spent years learning about this and other parts of the human musculoskeletal system. This knowledge allows them to offer physical therapy that’s helpful for neck arthritis. A few of the benefits that physical therapy can offer for this condition include:
1. Increasing your ability to look around — A normal neck allows you to turn your head from side to side with ease. This movement is vital for looking at objects, such as when you’re watching a family member play baseball. However, cervical spondylosis tends to reduce your ability to turn your head.
Physical therapists can use a technique called therapeutic exercise to help improve your neck range of motion (ROM). A study of this technique found that 10 days of it helped cervical spondylosis patients improve their:
- Right rotation by nearly eight degrees.
- Left rotation by more than six degrees.
1. Reducing pain — Neck arthritis also tends to inflame neck structures, which triggers pain. Decreasing and managing this pain is a key way physical therapists can help you.
Often, your specialist will use a therapy method called spinal manipulation to help treat neck arthritis pain. One study reveals that this technique helped reduce patients’ numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) scores by nearly three points on average after just two sessions.
1. Managing symptoms in the long term — Physical therapists want to help you manage your symptoms more effectively over the long term. Research shows that a technique called the McKenzie Method^® can help meet this goal.
The McKenzie Method is used to diagnose, treat and provide education about many spinal issues, including neck arthritis. A study found that using this therapy method can have long-term benefits for this condition. This study reports that a neck pain sufferer reported their pain hadn’t returned one month after completing their treatment.

Continuum Wellness offers effective physical therapy for neck arthritis

Are you suffering from neck arthritis? Our physical therapy team at Continuum Wellness is prepared to help you manage and treat the symptoms of this issue. We’ll start by doing a free screening on your neck. This helps us determine which symptoms you have and how severe they are.

Additionally, our physical therapists excel at building customized therapy plans designed to offer all the benefits above and more. Even better, you can start treating your symptoms without leaving home if you sign up for an at-home care or virtual therapy session with us.

Contact our team today for more information about our neck arthritis treatment options or to schedule your initial appointment.
May 17, 2021
What can physical therapy do for your neck arthritis?
There are many things that physical therapy can do for people with neck arthritis. But you have to be open to trying physical therapy in order to get the benefits it can offer.

Neck arthritis is also called cervical spondylosis, and it affects a huge percentage of Americans. One medical study reports that more than 85% of Americans over 60 have neck arthritis. Doing regular physical therapy sessions is just one way you can manage your neck arthritis symptoms; yet, this is a type of treatment you should consider since it offers multiple benefits for those who have neck arthritis.

Physical therapists have a solid grounding in the human musculoskeletal system, which includes the structures of the neck. This knowledge and the experience of treating neck arthritis allow physical therapists to offer several key benefits to patients with this condition. Some of these benefits include:
1. Education — It’s harder to know what can help you manage neck arthritis more effectively if you don’t know much about it. Physical therapists can inform you about this condition. They can help you learn such information as:
- What symptoms neck arthritis causes.
- Movements that can aggravate your symptoms.
- Things you can add to your daily routine that can help reduce your symptoms.
1. Pain reduction — Neck arthritis can literally be a pain in the neck. Trouble managing this pain is one reason why people seek help from a physical therapist. Physical therapists can use manual therapy methods to help ease neck stiffness and pain. They can also demonstrate therapeutic exercises designed to decrease pain and improve neck strength.
1. Range-of-motion improvement — How much you can tilt and turn your head is an indication of how good your neck range of motion (ROM) is. Often, neck arthritis sufferers experience decreased neck ROM. Physical therapy sessions can allow you to improve your neck ROM, and they can help improve your ability to do normal daily activities.
1. Slowing arthritis progression — Arthritis is a condition that progresses over time. Slowing the progression of your neck arthritis is a benefit that physical therapy can offer. One way your physical therapist can help with this is by making ergonomic recommendations. Such recommendations typically involve things like:
- Paying closer attention to the positioning of your neck and head.
- Adjusting your computer monitor to reduce neck strain.
- Purchasing an ergonomic office chair.
Find effective physical therapy for neck arthritis at Back in Motion

Not sure where to turn for top-notch physical therapy for neck arthritis? Our Back in Motion Physical Therapy team is primed to help you find the help you need for this condition. We offer free screenings that can confirm your neck symptoms are being caused by arthritis.

Additionally, our physical therapists are adept at creating personalized therapy plans designed to offer neck arthritis patients all the benefits above and more. We even offer at-home care and virtual therapy services that allow you to treat your symptoms from home.

Contact us today for more information about our arthritis treatment services or to schedule an initial appointment.
May 3, 2021
How long does a stiff neck last?
A stiff neck can lead to soreness and decreased flexibility that can make something as simple as turning your head difficult. It can also be hard to tell how long a stiff neck will last. In some cases, it might last for a day or two. For other people, their stiffness could last for weeks or come back periodically.

One way you can reduce how long your stiff neck lasts is to figure out what’s causing it. Physical therapists can help you make this determination. Also, these musculoskeletal specialists can offer top-notch treatment for your stiff and painful neck.

What could be causing your stiff neck?

What type of problem is causing your stiff neck can affect how long it lasts. Physical therapists have experience treating many musculoskeletal disorders that can cause neck stiffness and pain. A few of the issues that your therapist may discover in your neck include:
- Muscle strains — A muscle strain occurs when one of your muscles is overstretched. This is one common source of neck stiffness and pain. Often, a neck muscle strain is triggered by sleeping in an awkward position.
- Poor posture — Sitting for long periods with your neck and head hunched forward is common. Many people assume this posture when looking at their cellphone or working on their laptop. Holding this unnatural posture can make your neck muscles stiff and weak.
- Osteoarthritis — The structures that make up your neck, or cervical spine, can wear out over time. This is known as cervical osteoarthritis. A common symptom of this issue is a loss of flexibility in the neck. It can also lead to steadily increasing neck pain.
How can physical therapy help your stiff neck?

Physical therapists offer many techniques that can help your stiff neck. They can even help many people reduce how long their stiff neck lasts. Therapy methods your therapist may use to address your stiff neck include:
- Astym® therapy designed to realign neck muscle fibers and improve flexibility.
- Therapeutic exercises intended to stretch and strengthen the neck muscles.
- Dry needling that can break down myofascial trigger points in your neck soft tissue.
- Aquatic therapy that allows your neck to decompress naturally.
Excel PT can help reduce how long your stiff neck lasts

You don’t have to look far for help reducing how long your stiff neck lasts. Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy is prepared to help you meet this goal. Our physical therapists can do a free screening on your neck to determine the source of your stiffness. Next, we can construct a customized physical therapy plan for you, and we can even use at-home care and virtual therapy sessions to help treat your neck issue right in your home.

Contact our team today for more information about our treatment options for neck issues or to schedule your initial appointment.
April 12, 2021
Three exercises to address a stiff neck on one side
Feeling stiffness on one side of the neck is fairly common. After all, sleeping the wrong way can trigger this issue. It can also come from frequently performed neck or head movements you do at work.

The structures in your neck that become stiff are typically neck muscles. These muscles help rotate, bend, and flex your neck and head. Treating stiff muscles on one side of your neck is easier with help from a physical therapist. These specialists can help you find effective treatment for your neck stiffness and pain, and your treatment may include therapeutic exercises like:

Shoulder rolls

Purpose: Shoulder rolls can help loosen up neck muscles when they’re stiff on one or both sides.

How to perform shoulder rolls:
- Sit up straight on the edge of a stable chair.
- Pull your shoulders back slightly.
- Slowly roll the affected shoulder forward and down until you’ve completed a full circle.
- Continue until you’ve done five forward rolls.
- Then, reverse the direction of the roll.
- Continue until you’ve completed five backward rolls.
Lateral neck flexion stretch

Purpose: This exercise can help stretch out stiff muscles in one or both sides of your neck. It can also help stretch tense muscles along the top of your shoulders.

How to perform the lateral neck flexion stretch:
- Sit up straight with your chin as level as possible.
- Slowly tilt your head away from the affected side of your neck.
- Stop when you feel a moderate stretch.
- Hold the stretch for five to 10 seconds.
- Return your head to a neutral position.
- Repeat the stretch until you’ve done it three to five times on the affected side.
Neck rotations

Purpose: The neck rotation exercise is intended to stretch muscles that rotate your neck and head from one side to the other.

How to perform the neck rotation exercise:
- Sit with good posture and a level chin.
- Slowly rotate your head away from the stiff side of your neck.
- Rotate your head until you feel a moderate stretch in your neck.
- Hold this stretch for five to 10 seconds.
- Return your head to a neutral position and rest for a few seconds.
- Continue to do this exercise until you’ve done three to five repetitions.
Treat your neck stiffness and pain with help from Armor PT

Ready to reduce the stiffness on one side of your neck? Our team at Armor Physical Therapy is ready and willing to help you. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the source of your neck stiffness and pain. Additionally, our specialists can build you an individualized therapy plan designed to reduce your stiffness and prevent future stiffness. Even better, you can use our at-home care and virtual therapy services to help treat your stiffness in your home.

Contact us today for more information about our treatment options for neck pain and stiffness or to schedule an initial appointment.
April 1, 2021
What’s causing the pain in the back of my head at the base of my skull?
The area in the back of your head where the base of your skull meets your neck is a common area to experience pain. In fact, there are many issues that can cause pain there.

In general, neck pain is a common problem in the U.S. Medical researchers report that 5.8% of U.S. women and 4% of U.S. men are experiencing neck pain at any given time. Diagnosing the cause of the pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull is something a physical therapist can do. These specialists can also offer effective treatment for your neck and head pain.

Three common causes of pain in the back of the head at the base of the skull

The area at the back of your head and at the base of your skull is called the occipital region. Often, problems in the neck cause pain to radiate into this region of your head. A few of the issues that commonly trigger pain in the occipital region include:
- Suboccipital muscle tension — The suboccipital muscles connect the top of your neck to the base of your skull. Craning your head forward for long periods of time can leave these muscles tense and sore. The pain can also travel into the back of your head and down your neck.
- Herniated cervical discs — Spinal discs help separate and cushion your vertebrae. This includes the vertebrae in your cervical spine or neck. Trauma or repetitive strain can cause damage to the outer covering of a disc at the top of your neck. As a result, the disc’s inner material can poke out or herniate. This can irritate and inflame soft tissue and nerves near the herniated disc.
- Occipital neuralgia — This nerve condition occurs when the occipital nerves that run through your scalp are irritated or damaged. Occipital neuralgia is often caused by muscle or nerve problems in your neck. The most common symptom of this issue is burning or shocking pains that run from the base of the skull into one or both sides of the head.
How can physical therapy treat the pain in your occipital region?

Identifying the cause of the pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull isn’t the only thing physical therapists can do. They can also treat your pain. Your therapist will use an extensive knowledge of the human musculoskeletal system to develop a treatment plan for you. Such a plan may include therapy techniques like:
Find help for the pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull at Peak Performance

Struggling with pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull? Our Peak Performance team is primed to help you treat the pain in your occipital region. We can pinpoint the cause of your pain by doing a free screening of your neck and head. You’ll also find that our physical therapists excel at building personalized therapy plans designed to reduce pain. Our team even offers virtual therapy sessions that allow you to treat your pain from home.

Contact us today for more information about how we can address your neck and head pain or to schedule your initial appointment.
April 1, 2021
What causes herniated discs that trigger neck pain?
There are many structures in your neck that can be injured or damaged, and each of them can trigger pain when this happens. However, cervical discs are one structure that can often be the cause of neck pain.

Cervical discs are located between each of your seven neck vertebrae, and these vertebrae are named C1 through C7. A herniated disc is when one of these discs becomes inflamed or damaged. Medical researchers report that the most common location for a cervical herniated disc that causes neck pain is between vertebrae C6 and C7. A physical therapist can help determine the root cause of your herniated disc. They can help treat the symptoms of this neck injury, too.

Common causes of a herniated cervical disc that triggers neck pain

Physical therapists study all the structures of the neck, which are a part of the human musculoskeletal system. This in-depth knowledge allows them to identify the causes of herniated cervical discs like:
1. Disc degeneration — Like joint cartilage, spinal discs tend to degenerate as you age. This can leave your discs thinner and more prone to injury. One study found that 51.5% of the men and 46% of the women surveyed had degeneration in the disc between C5 and C6.
1. Trauma — A sudden blow to the neck can cause trauma in a spinal disc. Sudden violent movements, such as whiplash, can also injure cervical discs.
Physical therapy can help treat neck pain from herniated cervical discs

Physical therapists have many treatment options that they can use to help herniated cervical discs. A few of the treatment techniques that your specialist may use are:
- Spinal manipulation that can help realign the neck vertebrae and reduce pressure on a herniated disc.
- Soft tissue mobilization intended to reduce tension in soft tissue around the injured disc.
- Ergonomic recommendations that can reduce your risk of future neck issues.
Whatcom Physical Therapy is ready to help treat neck pain from a herniated disc

Tired of feeling neck pain from a herniated cervical disc? Our team of specialists at Whatcom PT is primed to help you find ways to treat your pain. We can do a free screening on your neck to reveal the root cause of your pain. Furthermore, our physical therapists are adept at building unique therapy plans designed to reduce pain and other herniated disc symptoms.

Not feeling up to coming into one of our clinics? No worries! You can still get top-notch treatment from our physical therapists by using our virtual therapy service.

Contact our team today for more information about how we can address your herniated cervical disc or to schedule your initial appointment.
March 5, 2021