Our necks have the tough job of supporting the full weight of our heads, which on average can be 12 pounds, and remaining flexible to move the head in all directions. Neck pain is a common condition and can be bothersome. The pain can be dull and achy to piercing. Postural stress can cause pain to radiate down to the upper back and arms.

The neck is just as susceptible to pain and injury as the back. Common causes are poor posture, repetitive movements, extended periods of sitting, accidents causing whiplash, falls or blows to the head or body, normal aging processes, and wear from daily activities.

Treatment for neck pain depends on the cause and symptoms of the pain. Chiropractic physicians will perform physical and neurological exams, checking range of motion, posture, spine, reflexes, muscle strength, and nerve changes, plus x-rays if needed. Once diagnosed, a treatment plan will be designed, which may include neck or spinal manipulation and therapeutic exercises.

Headaches and migraines can range from dull to throbbing pain, and can cause dizziness, vision changes, or nausea. The amount of pain can sometimes be debilitating and can disrupt daily living.

Headaches have many causes, which could include foods, environmental triggers like noise or lighting, stress, excessive exercise, or physical changes, such as blood sugar changes or extreme tension in the neck.

Research shows that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, is highly effective and can improve migraines and cervicognic headaches in most patients.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is considered a repetitive stress injury, and is often cause by excessive computer use or repetitive use of the hands like in assembly work. Over time, this condition can cause pain and injury to the tissues of the wrist.

The earlier that CTS is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. Diagnosing CTS is usually done by physical examination and possible x-rays. Treatments for this condition include adjustments to the wrist, elbow, and upper spine, immobilization, therapeutic exercises, and inflammation reducation therapies.

A rotator cuff injury can painful and lead to serious quality-of-life issues. Shoulders have extremely flexible joints, which are easily susceptible to injury.  Any activity or athletic movement that requires us to raise our hands above our heads repeatedly could cause inflammation to occur and over time, may lead to a more significant injury.

Some of the most common ways that people injure their rotator cuffs include:

• Repeatedly pitching a baseball
• Regularly serving a tennis ball
• Swimming thousands of yards per day
• Washing windows on a regular basis
• Painting walls for hours on end

There are a number of chronic medical conditions that could also lead to rotator cuff injuries. Some of the most common include:

• Shoulder arthritis
• Shoulder tendonitis
• Shoulder bursitis

Similar to other injuries, the sooner they are diagnosed, the faster they will heal. Therefore, it is important for everyone to be familiar with some of the most common symptoms of a rotator cuff injury.

Depending on the severity of a rotator cuff injury, it can present in different ways. Some of the most common ways that a rotator cuff injury might present include:

• There will be a dull ache or stiffness that is present at the back of the shoulder
• Individuals with a rotator cuff injury might notice arm weakness, particularly when trying to raise the arm above the head
• There could be a markedly restricted range of motion
• Individuals may notice disturbed and disrupted sleep patterns

Chiropractic care can help ensure that the bones, ligaments, and tendons are appropriately aligned, and treatments can be designed to strengthen supporting structures around the rotator cuff. Treatments include spinal manipulation, electrostimulation therapy, ultrasound waves, and therapeutic exercises to increase strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the rotator cuff.

Tennis Elbow is classified as a repetitive stress injury. 95% of people who suffer from tennis elbow, don’t play tennis at all!

Tennis elbow is the result of repetitive, forceful movements that cause inflammation, tears or strains of the elbow, which causes pain and impacts the range of motion.

Symptoms of tennis elblow include:

• Elbow and/or forearm pain
• Numbness of shooting pain into hands and/or neck
• Reduced strength in the affected arm(s) when trying to grip, carry or lift everyday objects
• Straightening the arm is imparied or painful to perform
• Golfers may feel painful shockwaves when striking the ball, or tennis players feel the same when their ball hits the racquet
• In severe cases, numbness and tingling can occur due to compression of the nerves caused by swelling

This condition is diagnosed through physical examination. Treatments include alignment of joints and bones through sinal maniuplation, acupuncture, laser therapy, ultrasound waves and inflammation reduction techniques.

Whiplash is the direct result of trauma, typically from a car accident. It is an injury to the neck muscles from rapid and sudden forceful movement of the head or neck in any direction that results in a “rebound” effect back to the original direction. This “whipping” motion causes damage to the surrounding and supporting tissues of the head and neck.

Treatment for neck pain depends on the cause and symptoms of the pain. Chiropractic physicians will perform physical and neurological exams, checking range of motion, posture, spine, reflexes, muscle strength, and nerve changes, plus x-rays or MRI if needed. Once diagnosed, a treatment plan will be designed to reduce inflammation, which first may include ultrasound waves, therapeutic exercises, and other techniques. Neck or spinal manipulation may be performed once inflammation and/or pain is decreased.