Neck and Shoulder Pain: Achieving Relief Through Chiropractic Massage
Neck and shoulder pain is a condition that many Filipino employees experience at some point of their lives. Whether it is developed by means of poor posture, injury, underlying medical issues, stress, and so forth, it is an ailment that can have a negative impact on someone’s life.
In a study that was conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), of the 54,551 occupational cases in 2021 and 132,710 cases in 2022, 5.2% were neck and shoulder pain. Therefore, it is a condition that should not be taken for granted. This is where regular chiropractic massage sessions and other forms of holistic alternatives come in. They can alleviate pain and speed up recovery by enhancing nervous system function and tapping the body’s capacity to heal itself.
Read on and find out why the said form of massage and chiropractic techniques can be beneficial among those who develop the said condition.
Poor posture’s connection to neck and shoulder pain
Before going through the details, let us take a quick yet detailed look at one of the most common causes of neck and shoulder pain: poor posture. A good example of this is sitting for extended hours in front of a computer, hunching over a smart device, and so on. Consequently, they can cause neck as well as shoulder muscles to become strained, which can eventually lead to pain and discomfort.
Below are reasons contributing factors to neck and shoulder pain that stems from poor posture and chiro treatments that can be performed to fix them:
Increased stress on cervical spine
As the head is held forward, the health of the cervical spine (starts below the skull) is compromised because it supports increasing amounts of weight.
What does a chiropractor do to improve cervical spine health? Well, for starters, he or she may utilize adjunctive therapy to address issues in the said region of the spine. Typical adjunctive therapies may include, but are not limited to, gentle stretching and spinal manipulation, therapeutic heat and/or cold, strengthening exercises, and others.
Muscle overload
A couple of neck and upper back muscles need to continually overwork in an effort to counterbalance the pull of gravity on the forward head. Because of this, the muscles in the said area become prone to painful strains and spasms.
To address muscle overload, a chiropractor may perform spinal manipulation or adjustment. Some chiropractic adjustment benefits include realignment of the spine that brings it to its natural state. Afterward, it reduces muscle overload, ligament strain, etc., which has a positive impact on posture and, eventually, on overall health.
Some practitioners may also perform therapy stretches and chiropractic massage therapies on the muscles as well as ligaments in the neck and shoulder area. These procedures reduce pain and accumulated tension and improve circulation, which speeds up healing then allows patients to experience a sense of relaxation.
Hyperflexion and hyperextension
When in poor posture, for example forward head motion, the lower cervical spine goes into hyperflexion (flexed beyond its regular range of motion). Here, the vertebrae are tilted too far forward. However, when this happens, the upper cervical spine does the opposite and goes into hyperextension (excessive movement to one direction). This is because the brain automatically keeps the head looking upward so that the eyes can look forward.
Such modification of the spine’s curve inappropriately extends the spinal distance from the bottom of the skull to the bottom of the neck. This may cause the spinal cord and nearby nerves to stretch, causing pain and discomfort.
Chiropractic treatment has been known to be effective in reducing neck and shoulder pain that is caused by hyperflexion and hyperextension. This is by facilitating healing as well as restoring the full range of motion of the injured joints. Spinal and joint manipulation can also bring back the normal positioning of damaged vertebrae or joints, especially when done together with chiropractic massage, trigger point therapy, electro-stimulation, and so on.
Is chiropractic treatment safe for neck and shoulder pain?
Countless studies confirm that chiropractic treatment is not only effective when it comes to treating neck and shoulder pain, its safety is impeccable. In one study that was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers looked at various therapies for neck pain. Here, 272 participants received spinal manipulation from a chiro doctor, another group did at-home workouts, while another was given over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and narcotics.
After 12 weeks, the following achieved pain reduction: 57% of the chiropractic manipulation group, 48% of the at-home workouts group, and 33% of the medicated group.
This suggests that chiropractic care is not only effective; it is also safe when it comes to relieving neck and shoulder pain.
What to expect when getting chiropractic massage for neck and shoulder pain
Prior to treatment, a chiropractor is going to perform a thorough physical exam. This may include checking the following: spinal mobility, neck curvature, tension in the shoulder region, range of motion, and so on.
If a chiropractor determines that manipulation as well as massage are necessary, he or she may perform them on the neck and shoulder area. Others may perform the said procedures with equipment such as activator-adjusting instruments. They are compact as well as handheld gadgets that utilize fast as well as low-force pressure on the neck and shoulder joints.
It should be noted that in a vast majority of cases, more than one session is required to fix neck and shoulder pain. Treatments may run for several weeks, starting off with two or even three sessions on a weekly basis. As the discomfort improves, session frequency is going to be strategically decreased.
Summing up
If you are struggling with neck and shoulder pain, you would be happy to know that chiropractic massage sessions and other forms of chiro treatments can offer relief from the said condition. By addressing the underlying causes of your pain and helping you regain proper function of spine as well as joints, you can enhance your quality of life and live your life to the fullest.
At Posture Perfect, we recognize the challenges as well as impact of neck and shoulder pain on daily routines. With the extensive expertise of our doctors, trust that we emphasize treating the said condition to its core.
Book an appointment now and take the first step toward regaining neck and shoulder health.
