Neck Pain
In this world of high stress, long hours spent in front of the computer, and busy days, it seems like everyone has experienced some form of neck and shoulder pain/stiffness. The good news is there is an answer to your pain. Chiropractic is one of the most commonly used treatments for neck and shoulder pain. Stress or bad posture cause the muscles in your neck and upper back to get tight. Those muscles are the major muscles that attach to your cervical spine (your neck) and are responsible for moving your head and neck. When those muscles are tight, the vertebrae in your cervical spine cannot move normally. As a result, you start to develop pain and stiffness in your neck. Through chiropractic adjustments (see the What is Chiropractic? page for more information on adjustments), normal motion can be restored to your neck. This, in turn, helps to relax the tight muscles and eliminate the pain. The doctor can also recommend simple exercises and stretches that will help to speed up the recovery process and return your posture and muscles to normal. These can be done long after treatment has stopped to prevent future flare-ups of neck pain.

Signs that you may need treatment for your neck pain include:

• decreased range of motion (can't turn far enough to look back when driving)

• aching in the upper shoulder region

• aching below the skull at the top of your neck

• frequent headaches

• forward head carriage (head protrudes forward from the body)

• neck pain

Whiplash
Whiplash is a completely different source of neck pain. Whiplash injuries are most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be overstretched or torn. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. This commonly results in a loss of the normal forward "C" curve in your neck. While the occupants can suffer considerable soft tissue injury, the car may be only slightly damaged. Furthermore, as the body attempts to adapt to the injury, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months after the accident.

The chiropractic approach to whiplash injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustments and certain physiotherapies to help return spinal function and promote healing in the soft tissues. After a thorough case history and examination, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.

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