Sleeping in the wrong position. Using poor posture while working on the computer. Being injured in a car accident. There are many ways that people can develop neck pain.
At some point or another, most people experience neck pain. In fact, medical research shows that almost 80% of people will experience neck pain in their lifetime. Most people find ways to treat minor neck pain at home. However, people with chronic or severe neck pain should seek professional treatment immediately.
These are signs that you need professional neck pain treatment
Chronic neck pain tends to be the result of untreated neck injuries. It can also be caused by degenerative issues like cervical osteoarthritis. Physical therapists and other medical professionals consider neck pain to be chronic if it lasts for more than 12 weeks.
Some of the most common symptoms of chronic neck pain include:
- Pain that gets worse after holding your head in one position, such as when you are sitting at a computer or driving for long distances
- Muscle tightness or spasms
- Headaches
- Decreased ability to move your head from side to side or up and down
How can a physical therapist treat chronic neck pain?
Physical therapists are experts in many physical therapy techniques, and they can help you build a chronic neck pain treatment plan that’s personalized to your needs.
A few of the physical therapy methods your treatment plan can include are:
- Manual therapy techniques designed to stretch and realign your neck
- Therapeutic exercises that can increase neck flexibility and strength
- Graston Technique® sessions intended to break down scar tissue in the neck
- Virtual therapy appointments where you meet with a physical therapist over a secure video feed
- Trigger point therapy designed to relieve tension from knots in your neck and shoulders
- At-home care sessions in which you work with your physical therapist in your home
You can find professional treatment for neck pain at Panther Physical Therapy
Our Panther Physical Therapy team wants to help you effectively address your neck pain. We’ll start by performing a free screening for you, and this is intended to pinpoint the root cause of your pain. With this information, our physical therapists can create an individualized therapy plan for you that’s designed to reduce your pain and prevent it from returning.
Ready to start getting our help with your neck pain? Contact us today for more information on our high-quality physical therapy services or to schedule an initial appointment.