Back Clinic Neck Treatment Team. Dr. Alex Jimenezs collection of neck pain articles contain a selection of medical conditions and/or injuries regarding symptoms surrounding the cervical spine. The neck is made up of various complex structures; bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and other types of tissues. When these structures are damaged or injured as a result of improper posture, osteoarthritis, or even whiplash, among other complications, the pain and discomfort an individual experiences can be impairing. Through chiropractic care, Dr. Jimenez explains how the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations focuses on the cervical spine can greatly help relieve the painful symptoms associated with neck issues. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.
Can cervical retraction be a good addition to a home exercise program for individuals with neck pain, spinal arthritis, or needing to strengthen their neck muscles?
Cervical Retraction
Cervical retraction is a neck exercise that involves gently sliding the head backward while keeping the chin tucked. It can help with:
Neck pain
Stretching and loosening the muscles at the back of the neck.
Headaches
Tightness
Improve posture
Improve flexibility and mobility
Preparation
Basic steps for performing a cervical retraction exercise:
Sit upright with good posture.
Tuck your chin as far as you can comfortably.
Look up while keeping your chin tucked.
Rotate the neck 1-2 inches to each side.
Return to the starting position.
Stop the exercise if you experience pain.
You want to get good at this without loading the joints while learning the movement. Gently and accurately moving your head in alignment with the neck will help you find the correct head action as it moves. Then, it can be performed as a full exercise. Performing the movement correctly requires focus. This is why cervical retraction is done while sitting in a chair with proper posture. Individuals can also stand, but it is more complicated for the body to coordinate than sitting, but it can be done once the individual has practiced.
Sitting or Standing
Gently tuck your chin down toward your neck.
The focus is alignment.
Keeping your chin where it is, press your head back.
There will be soreness, especially for those with pain symptoms, but the neck should feel better.
Be mindful of any intense or severe pain resulting from cervical retraction.
Individuals with cervical spondylosis (neck arthritis) stop if pain presents. (Cleveland Clinic, 2023)
Other Neck Exercises
Another good neck-strengthening exercise is the isometric neck press. In this exercise, you move your head forward, backward, and to each side while your hand provides resistance. This develops flexibility and is recommended for those with arthritis in this area. (Sadeghi, A. et al., 2022) Other exercises include: (Pain Consultants of West Florida, 2019)
Neck extensions: Backward bending can help relieve nerve compression and ease the strain on the cervical spine.
Side rotation: This exercise can improve neck mobility.
Shoulder rolls: This exercise can help keep the neck and shoulder joints fluid.
Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic
If you have a neck condition or radiculopathy that causes pain or other symptoms going down the arm or are unsure how to do it, check with a healthcare provider or physical therapist before trying the exercise. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness solution. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, and prevent injury. Regarding musculoskeletal pain, specialists like chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can help mitigate the pain through spinal adjustments that help the body realign itself. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan to resolve musculoskeletal issues.
Sadeghi, A., Rostami, M., Ameri, S., Karimi Moghaddam, A., Karimi Moghaddam, Z., & Zeraatchi, A. (2022). Effectiveness of isometric exercises on disability and pain of cervical spondylosis: a randomized controlled trial. BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 14(1), 108. doi.org/10.1186/s13102-022-00500-7
For individuals with cervical arthritis, can physical therapies help manage symptoms and bring pain relief?
Cervical Arthritis
Cervical spondylosis, more commonly known as cervical arthritis or arthritis of the neck, refers to the wearing down of neck bones, discs, tendons, ligaments, and joints. The primary symptoms are neck pain and stiffness. However, it is also possible to have cervical spondylosis and not have any symptoms. The condition affects over 85% of individuals over age 65. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2021) Treatment can consist of conservative therapies and includes physical therapies, alternative medicine therapies, at-home self care, and over-the-counter and prescription medications. Severe cases of cervical spondylosis are treated with surgery to repair damaged parts of the spine.
Symptoms
Neck pain and headaches at the back of the head are usually the first symptoms. (Kazeminasab S. et al., 2022) The neck can also feel stiff, with worse morning symptoms that improve throughout the day. (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2024) Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. As cervical spondylosis progresses, individuals can experience:
Inability to turn the head or bend the neck.
A clicking or grinding noise when turning the neck.
Tenderness with pressure on the neck.
Pain that radiates to the shoulders or shoulder blades.
Pain and symptoms that disrupt sleep, sometimes causing waking up throughout the night.
Symptoms that decrease with rest.
More severe symptoms include:
Cervical Bone Spurs – Osteophytes
Some with cervical spondylosis have bony growths that can place pressure on the spinal nerves (a pinched nerve) (Bon Secours, 2024). Compression of spinal nerve roots produces cervical radiculopathy, which leads to pain, tingling, and weakness that radiates into the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Cervical Myelopathy
This refers to spinal impingement that leads to spinal cord dysfunction. (Spinal cord dysfunction is a nervous system disorder with interruptions in the spinal cord’s motor, sensory, and autonomic functions.) Symptoms include pain, tingling, numbness, muscle spasms, and weakness in areas below the neck. Spinal cord dysfunction can affect mobility, hand use, and bladder or bowel function control.
Causes
Where degenerative changes are commonly associated with cervical spondylosis, other conditions, and factors can lead to it and include:
Autoimmune Diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis can cause chronic inflammation in the cervical spine.
Trauma
Neck trauma, including injury and repetitive stress on the neck.
Cervical spondylosis is commonly seen in occupations that involve neck-stressing activities, such as sports.
Age
Wearing down of the spinal discs cartilage between the vertebrae.
Genetic components have been identified in connection with cervical spondylosis, meaning that some types of arthritis that lead to spinal damage are hereditary. (Kazeminasab S. et al., 2022)
Treatment
Treatment begins conservatively, using protocols to preserve function and avoid surgery. Nonsurgical treatments include medications, physical therapy, at-home exercises, and alternative medicine. The treatment method a healthcare provider chooses will depend on how severe the spondylosis is and other factors like age, how much pain is being experienced, the cause, and overall health. The main objectives are to relieve pain, prevent long-term damage to the spinal cord and nerves, and help maintain performing daily activities. (Bon Secours, 2024)
Medications
Medicines used to treat cervical spondylosis include:
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs NSAIDs
NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, are available without a prescription to relieve pain and inflammation.
A healthcare provider can prescribe a more powerful NSAID to help manage severe symptoms.
Corticosteroids
A corticosteroid injection or a short course of an oral corticosteroid, like prednisone, can ease pain and reduce inflammation.
Muscle Relaxants
If cervical spondylosis causes muscle spasms, a healthcare provider can prescribe cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant, to manage symptoms.
Antidepressants
Some types of antidepressants can ease neck pain from cervical spondylosis.
Anti-seizure Meds
Some anti-seizure drugs can cause nerve pain resulting from damaged nerves.
Physical Therapies
Physical therapy will help manage pain and stiffness and keep muscles loose and relaxed.
A physical therapist will teach the patient exercises to stretch and strengthen neck and shoulder muscles.
At-Home Self Care
At-home exercises can help relieve pain, stiffness, and swelling. Some can include:
Reducing inflammation and stress on the neck through posture training.
At-home targeted stretches and exercises will help bring pain relief.
Ice treatment reduces swelling.
Heat will increase circulation.
A neck brace may be recommended briefly to avoid muscle weakness and stiffness.
Alternative Medicine
Chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy are alternative treatments that will help manage cervical spondylosis.
Acupuncture can also be beneficial in reducing neck pain and increasing energy circulation. (Gu C. L. et al., 2019)
Various therapeutic massage therapies will help relieve neck pain and stiffness. Talk to a healthcare provider before starting treatment so they can advise on whether neck massages are safe.
Surgery
A healthcare provider may recommend surgical treatment when all other treatments have failed, if neurological symptoms are severe, or if neck arthritis causes extreme pain or disability. Surgery to treat cervical spondylosis can involve removing bone spurs, part of the cervical vertebra, or a herniated disc. The removed portions of the cervical spine are fused with hardware and bone grafts.
Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic
Chiropractic therapy is among the more conservative treatment options and may be tried first before proceeding with surgery. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness solution.
Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M. J. M., Kolahi, A. A., & Safiri, S. (2022). Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 23(1), 26. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Jenkins, H. J., Downie, A. S., Moore, C. S., & French, S. D. (2018). Current evidence for spinal X-ray use in the chiropractic profession: a narrative review. Chiropractic & manual therapies, 26, 48. doi.org/10.1186/s12998-018-0217-8
Gu, C. L., Yan, Y., Zhang, D., & Li, P. (2019). An evaluation of the effectiveness of acupuncture with seven acupoint-penetrating needles on cervical spondylosis. Journal of pain research, 12, 1441–1445. doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S199798
Can incorporating various yoga poses help reduce neck tension and provide pain relief for individuals dealing with neck pain?
Introduction
Within the hustling and bustling of modern life, it is common for many individuals to carry stress in their bodies. When the body deals with everyday stressors, tension, discomfort, and pain can often manifest in the upper and lower portions of the body. When the body’s upper and lower portions deal with these issues, they can cause overlapping risk profiles in the musculoskeletal system. One of the most common musculoskeletal issues is neck pain. It can cause many problems to the cervical portion of the spine and cause the surrounding muscles to become tense and in pain from the stress of everyday responsibilities. Luckily, there are numerous ways to reduce stress from the neck and help relax the affected muscles from discomfort, including yoga. In today’s article, we will look at how neck pain affects the upper body, the benefits of yoga for neck pain, and various yoga poses to reduce the overlapping effects of neck pain. We discuss with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how neck pain is correlated with everyday stressors that affect the upper body. We also inform and guide patients on how yoga and the various poses can benefit the body and provide pain relief to the surrounding muscles. We also encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers many intricate and important questions about incorporating yoga into their daily routine to reduce muscle tension and provide clarity to their bodies. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Does Neck Pain Affect The Upper Body?
Do you feel discomfort or pain in your neck and shoulders after a long, hard workday? Do you notice you hunched more than usual when doing your daily routine? Or do you see yourself developing a hunched posture from looking at the computer screen or phone for an extended period? Many of these normal motions are often correlated with the upper body, especially in the neck and shoulder regions, which causes neck pain. As one of the most common problems affecting many people worldwide, neck pain is a multifactorial disease with numerous risk factors contributing to its development. (Kazeminasab et al., 2022) Like back pain, neck pain can have acute and chronic stages depending on the severity and environmental factors leading to its development. The various muscles, ligaments, and tissues surrounding the neck and shoulders keep the neck stable and mobile. When many individuals overuse these muscles in the neck and shoulders repetitively, it can increase neck pain in the upper body in adulthood. (Ben Ayed et al., 2019)
When acute neck pain turns chronic, it can cause the individual to be in constant discomfort, pain, and misery, so they start to look for various solutions to reduce the correlating symptoms when speaking to their primary doctors. When many individuals begin to explain to their doctors what their daily routine looks like, many doctors will start to assess and formulate a plan that focuses on any specific description of any injuries, including potential mechanisms, inciting and relieving factors, and pain patterns they have encountered throughout the day to come up with a personalized treatment plan to not only reduce neck pain but also provide relief to tension and discomfort to the body. (Childress & Stuek, 2020)
The Science of Motion- Video
The Benefits Of Yoga For Neck Pain
Many primary doctors will work with associated medical providers to develop a personalized plan to relieve neck pain and its associated symptoms in many individuals. Many of these customized treatment plans include spinal manipulation, acupuncture, massage, decompression therapy, and therapeutic exercises. One of the therapeutic exercises that many individuals have utilized is yoga. Yoga is a holistic practice encompassing breathing control, meditation, and various poses to stretch and strengthen the affected upper muscles. Yoga is excellent for reducing neck pain and helping with upper cervical spine mobility, stretching the neck musculature to help the individual improve mobility and flexibility. (Raja et al., 2021) Additionally, the effects of yoga and its many poses can reduce tension, give clarity to the mind, and allow the nutrients and oxygen to the musculo-articular system to naturally heal the body itself. (Gandolfi et al., 2023)
Yoga Poses For Neck Pain
At the same time, many individuals with sedentary jobs that correlate to neck pain have implemented yoga as part of their routine. Yoga improves their range of joint motion and cognitive function and helps relieve musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck and shoulder regions. (Thanasilungkoon et al., 2023) Below are some of the various yoga poses that can help reduce the pain-like symptoms of neck pain and ease the surrounding muscles.
Seated Neck Stretches
For seated neck stretches, this yoga pose helps stretch and release the neck muscles that carry tension and stress in the cervical region of the body.
In a seated upright position, turn the head to the right and gently lift the chin.
You should feel a stretch along the left side of the neck and shoulders.
Hold the position for three to five breaths and repeat on the left side.
Camel Pose
For the camel pose, this yoga pose helps strengthen the front neck muscles while easing tension on the shoulders and back of the neck.
You can kneel on a yoga mat by keeping your knees and feet hip-distance apart while keeping the pelvis neutral.
Lift the chest while arching your back and pressing the pelvis slightly forward.
Bring the fingertips to the heels or yoga blocks beside the ankles.
Focus on drawing the chin close to the neck while pressing the feet to the mat.
Hold the position for three to five breaths before releasing and lifting the sternum to rise back up.
Sphinx Pose
The sphinx pose allows you to lengthen and strengthen the spine while stretching the shoulders and releasing tension.
On a yoga mat, lie on your stomach with the elbows under the shoulders.
Press your palms and forearms on the mat and tighten the lower half to support you as you lift your upper torso and head.
Keep looking straight ahead as you are being mindful of lengthening the spine.
Hold this position for three to five breaths.
Thread The Needle Pose
The thread-the-needle pose helps release tension stored in the neck, shoulders, and back.
On a yoga mat, start in an all-fours position with the wrist under the shoulders and the knees under the hips.
Lift the right hand and move it to the left along the floor with the palm facing up.
Hold the position for three to five breaths for thirty seconds and release.
Return to the all-fours position and repeat to the left side.
Conclusion
Overall, incorporating yoga as part of a daily routine can provide beneficial results in reducing neck pain and its associated comorbidities. Yoga does not require hours of practice or even contorting into various poses, as just a few minutes of gentle stretching and mindful breathing each day can provide positive results. When people start to utilize yoga as part of their daily activities, they will notice their posture improving, their minds clearer than ever, and live a happier, healthier life without dealing with neck pain.
References
Ben Ayed, H., Yaich, S., Trigui, M., Ben Hmida, M., Ben Jemaa, M., Ammar, A., Jedidi, J., Karray, R., Feki, H., Mejdoub, Y., Kassis, M., & Damak, J. (2019). Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Neck, Shoulders and Low-Back Pain in Secondary-School Children. J Res Health Sci, 19(1), e00440. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31133629
Childress, M. A., & Stuek, S. J. (2020). Neck Pain: Initial Evaluation and Management. American Family Physician, 102(3), 150-156. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32735440
Gandolfi, M. G., Zamparini, F., Spinelli, A., & Prati, C. (2023). Asana for Neck, Shoulders, and Wrists to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dental Professionals: In-Office Yoga Protocol. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol, 8(1). doi.org/10.3390/jfmk8010026
Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M. J. M., Kolahi, A. A., & Safiri, S. (2022). Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 26. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Raja, G. P., Bhat, N. S., Fernandez-de-Las-Penas, C., Gangavelli, R., Davis, F., Shankar, R., & Prabhu, A. (2021). Effectiveness of deep cervical fascial manipulation and yoga postures on pain, function, and oculomotor control in patients with mechanical neck pain: study protocol of a pragmatic, parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial. Trials, 22(1), 574. doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05533-w
Thanasilungkoon, B., Niempoog, S., Sriyakul, K., Tungsukruthai, P., Kamalashiran, C., & Kietinun, S. (2023). The Efficacy of Ruesi Dadton and Yoga on Reducing Neck and Shoulder Pain in Office Workers. Int J Exerc Sci, 16(7), 1113-1130. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38287934
Can individuals with thoracic outlet syndrome incorporate electroacupuncture to reduce neck pain and restore proper posture?
Introduction
More times throughout the world, many individuals have experienced pain around their necks, which can lead to pain and discomfort. Many environmental factors, like being in a hunched position while looking at the computer or phone, traumatic injuries, poor posture, or spinal issues, can cause pain-like symptoms and complications to the body. Since neck pain is a common complaint many people suffer, symptoms like tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness in the upper extremities can lead to comorbidities. When this happens, it can lead to the development of a complex condition known as thoracic outlet syndrome or TOS. Today’s article looks at the link between thoracic outlet syndrome and neck pain, how to manage TOS while alleviating neck pain, and how electroacupuncture can help with TOS. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how to minimize the effects of TOS while reducing neck pain. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture can help manage TOS. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating electroacupuncture to alleviate TOS associated with the neck. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Link Between Thoracic Outlet Syndrome & Neck Pain
Have you been noticing how you are hunched over more than usual? Do you experience symptoms of tingling or numbness down from your arms to your hands? Or do you feel muscle tension in your neck? Thoracic outlet syndrome, or TOS, is a challenging condition resulting in the compression of neurovascular structures between the clavicle and the first rib. (Masocatto et al., 2019) These neurovascular structures are near the neck and shoulders. When environmental structures affect the upper extremities, it can lead to referred neck pain, which can cause overlapping risk profiles. Some of the factors that TOS can contribute to neck pain include:
Atomical variations
Poor posture
Repetitive motions
Traumatic injuries
At the same time, people with neck pain can develop TOS, as neck pain is a multifactorial musculoskeletal condition that can be associated with overlapping risk profiles that contribute to TOS. (Kazeminasab et al., 2022) As stated earlier, factors like poor posture can overstretch the neck muscles and the neurovascular structures, leading to neuropathic pain symptoms that can cause deep aching referred pain to the neck and muscle weakness. (Childress & Stuek, 2020) When this happens, many people will begin to feel miserable and start to seek treatment to not only reduce TOS but also alleviate neck pain.
What Is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome- Video
Managing TOS & Alleviating Neck Pain
When it comes to treating TOS, especially when neck pain is a significant component, many individuals will try to seek out non-surgical treatments to reduce the symptoms. Many individuals may try physical therapy to stretch and strengthen their shoulder, chest, and neck muscles to relieve compression. Others might try a manual treatment that is joint-oriented for the neck while neural-tissue-oriented for TOS to improve mobilization on the upper extremities and even improve poor posture. (Kuligowski et al., 2021) Additionally, non-surgical treatments can be combined with other therapies to reduce the chances of TOS from returning as they can further increase sensory-motor function back to the neck and upper extremities. (Borrella-Andres et al., 2021)
How Electroacupuncture Can Help With TOS
Electroacupuncture is a modern form of traditional acupuncture that is part of the non-surgical treatments that can help manage TOS while alleviating neck pain. Electroacupuncture is a modification of inserting needles into the body’s acupoints while incorporating electric stimulation to deliver a pulsed electrical current to the affected area gently. (Zhang et al., 2022) Some of the beneficial properties that electrostimulation can provide for TOS include:
Pain reduction by stimulating the release of endorphins to decrease inflammation.
Help relax the affected muscles in the chest and neck to alleviate the pressure on the nerves of the thoracic outlet.
Help enhance the blood flow to reduce vascular compression of TOS.
Help stimulate the nerve pathway to promote healthy nerve function and reduce pain-like symptoms.
By incorporating electroacupuncture and non-surgical treatments to reduce TOS, many individuals can make modifications to their lifestyle habits and prevent issues from affecting their upper body extremities. By utilizing these treatments, many people can listen to their bodies and focus on their health and well-being by addressing the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from TOS correlating with neck pain. At the same time, they have a positive relationship with their primary doctors to develop a personalized treatment plan that can manage their TOS symptoms to the best outcomes.
References
Borrella-Andres, S., Marques-Garcia, I., Lucha-Lopez, M. O., Fanlo-Mazas, P., Hernandez-Secorun, M., Perez-Bellmunt, A., Tricas-Moreno, J. M., & Hidalgo-Garcia, C. (2021). Manual Therapy as a Management of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review. Biomed Res Int, 2021, 9936981. doi.org/10.1155/2021/9936981
Childress, M. A., & Stuek, S. J. (2020). Neck Pain: Initial Evaluation and Management. American Family Physician, 102(3), 150-156. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32735440
Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M. J. M., Kolahi, A. A., & Safiri, S. (2022). Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 26. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Kuligowski, T., Skrzek, A., & Cieslik, B. (2021). Manual Therapy in Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(11). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116176
Masocatto, N. O., Da-Matta, T., Prozzo, T. G., Couto, W. J., & Porfirio, G. (2019). Thoracic outlet syndrome: a narrative review. Rev Col Bras Cir, 46(5), e20192243. doi.org/10.1590/0100-6991e-20192243 (Sindrome do desfiladeiro toracico: uma revisao narrativa.)
Zhang, B., Shi, H., Cao, S., Xie, L., Ren, P., Wang, J., & Shi, B. (2022). Revealing the magic of acupuncture based on biological mechanisms: A literature review. Biosci Trends, 16(1), 73-90. doi.org/10.5582/bst.2022.01039
Can individuals with cervical spinal pain incorporate spinal decompression therapy to reduce neck pain and headaches?
Introduction
Many individuals deal with neck pain at some point, leading to many issues that can impact their daily lives. See, the neck is part of the cervical region of the musculoskeletal system. It is surrounded by muscles, soft tissues, and ligaments that protect the spinal cord while allowing the head to be mobile. Like back pain, neck pain is a common issue that causes pain and discomfort from associated environmental factors and traumatic injuries. When a person is dealing with neck pain, they are also coping with comorbidities that cause overlapping risk profiles like headaches and migraines. However, treatments like spinal decompression can help reduce cervical spinal pain affecting the neck and reduce the painful effects of headaches and migraines. Today’s article looks at the impact of cervical pain and headaches, how spinal decompression can reduce cervical spinal pain, and how it benefits from reducing headaches. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how to mitigate cervical spinal pain from the neck. We also inform and guide patients on how spinal decompression can help reduce headaches caused by cervical spinal pain. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating spinal decompression therapy as part of their routine to reduce headaches and migraines associated with the neck. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Effects Of Cervical Pain & Headaches
Do you feel stiffness on both sides of your neck that causes you limited mobility when you turn your neck? Have you experienced constant throbbing pain in your temples? Or do you feel muscle aches on your neck and shoulders from being hunched on the computer for an extended period? Many individuals dealing with these pain-like issues could be coping with cervical spinal pain. Various causes that can lead to the development of cervical spinal pain include herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal stenosis, and muscle strain that originates from the neck region. This is because cervical spinal pain can be associated with environmental factors that can cause pain and discomfort, disability, and impaired quality of life as the surrounding neck muscles are overstretched and tight. (Ben Ayed et al., 2019) When people are dealing with cervical spinal pain, one of the symptoms it is associated with is headaches. This is because the intricated nerve pathways are connected to the neck and head. When cervical spinal pain is causing these issues, it can significantly impact a person’s daily body function as the pain is traveling upwards.
At the same time, neck pain is a multifactorial disease that can become a major issue worldwide. Like back pain, numerous risk factors can contribute to its development. (Kazeminasab et al., 2022) Some risk factors, like excessive phone usage, cause prolonged neck flexion to the neck and shoulders, causing static muscular loading with a lack of support to the upper extremities. (Al-Hadidi et al., 2019) To this point, environmental risk factors like excessive phone usage can make individuals develop a hunched position in their necks that can compress the spinal disc in the cervical region and aggravate the nerve roots to produce headaches and pain. However, many individuals have found ways to reduce cervical spinal pain and find pain relief from their headaches.
Home Exercises for Pain Relief-Video
How Spinal Decompression Reduces Cervical Spinal Pain
When it comes to reducing cervical spinal pain, many individuals have experienced that spinal decompression can help mitigate the effects of cervical pain. Spinal decompression has increasingly been recognized as an effective non-surgical treatment when it comes to alleviating cervical spinal pain. What spinal decompression does is that it allows negative pressure on the cervical spine to relieve any herniated disc of the aggravated nerve roots and help improve neurological symptoms. (Kang et al., 2016) This is due to a person being strapped comfortably on a traction machine that gently stretches and decompresses the spinal vertebrae. Additionally, some of the benefits of spinal decompression for cervical spinal pain include:
Improved spinal alignment to reduce muscle strain on the neck muscles and joints.
Enhanced the body’s natural healing by increasing blood flow and nutrient exchange.
Increased neck mobility by decreasing muscle stiffness.
Reducing pain levels that are causing intense headaches.
The Benefits of Spinal Decompression For Headaches
Additionally, spinal decompression can help reduce headaches associated with cervical spinal pain as spinal decompression can be combined with other therapies like acupuncture and physical therapy to relieve the protruding spinal dice and stabilize within the annulus by spinal elongation. (Van Der Heijden et al., 1995) This is due to gentle traction on the neck that is causing the prolapsed disc to reposition itself while restoring disc height to minimize the pressure on the nerves. (Amjad et al., 2022) When a person is doing spinal decompression therapy consecutively, the pain-like effects of cervical spinal pain and the associated headaches begin to reduce over time, and many people will start to notice how their habits are in correlation with their pain. By incorporating spinal decompression therapy as part of their treatment, many people can make small changes in their routine and be more mindful of their bodies to prevent the progression of cervical spinal pain from returning.
References
Al-Hadidi, F., Bsisu, I., AlRyalat, S. A., Al-Zu’bi, B., Bsisu, R., Hamdan, M., Kanaan, T., Yasin, M., & Samarah, O. (2019). Association between mobile phone use and neck pain in university students: A cross-sectional study using numeric rating scale for evaluation of neck pain. PLOS ONE, 14(5), e0217231. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217231
Amjad, F., Mohseni-Bandpei, M. A., Gilani, S. A., Ahmad, A., & Hanif, A. (2022). Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 255. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05196-x
Ben Ayed, H., Yaich, S., Trigui, M., Ben Hmida, M., Ben Jemaa, M., Ammar, A., Jedidi, J., Karray, R., Feki, H., Mejdoub, Y., Kassis, M., & Damak, J. (2019). Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Neck, Shoulders and Low-Back Pain in Secondary-School Children. J Res Health Sci, 19(1), e00440. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31133629
Kang, J.-I., Jeong, D.-K., & Choi, H. (2016). Effect of spinal decompression on the lumbar muscle activity and disk height in patients with herniated intervertebral disk. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 28(11), 3125-3130. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.3125
Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M. J. M., Kolahi, A. A., & Safiri, S. (2022). Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 26. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Van Der Heijden, G. J., Beurskens, A. J., Koes, B. W., Assendelft, W. J., De Vet, H. C., & Bouter, L. M. (1995). The Efficacy of Traction for Back and Neck Pain: A Systematic, Blinded Review of Randomized Clinical Trial Methods. Physical Therapy, 75(2), 93-104. doi.org/10.1093/ptj/75.2.93
Can individuals with shoulder pain, find pain relief from electroacupuncture therapy to reduce stiffness associated with the neck?
Introduction
When many individuals are dealing with pain-like symptoms that are caused by environmental factors, it can affect their daily performance or their routines. Some of the most common pain areas that people usually get are from the neck, shoulder, or back. Since the musculoskeletal system has various upper and lower quadrant muscles, they have an outstanding relationship with the nerve roots that spread out to the muscles to provide sensory-motor functions. When environmental factors or traumatic injuries start to affect the musculoskeletal system, it can lead to a life of disability, pain, and discomfort. So, when individuals are dealing with shoulder pain that is causing issues with their neck, it can lead to various pain-like symptoms in the upper quadrants and searching for treatments to reduce their pain. Treatments like electroacupuncture can provide a positive outlook on reducing shoulder pain associated with the neck. Today’s article focuses on how shoulder pain correlates with the neck, how electroacupuncture positively reduces shoulder pain, and how it can reduce neck and shoulder stiffness. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how shoulder pain is correlated with neck issues. We also inform and guide patients on how non-surgical treatments like electroacupuncture can help reduce shoulder pain and relieve the neck. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about how their neck and shoulder pain affects their daily routine. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Does Shoulder Pain Correlate With The Neck?
Have you been dealing with stiffness in your neck or shoulders that is causing your hands to feel numb? Do you feel muscle strain from the sides of your neck that rotating your shoulders causes temporary relief? Or do you feel muscle soreness in your shoulders after laying on one side for too long? Many of these pain-like issues are correlated with shoulder pain, which can become a frequent musculoskeletal condition that can evolve into chronic problems over time. (Suzuki et al., 2022) This can cause the upper body extremities that work with the shoulders to deal with muscular issues that cause the shoulder and neck muscles to become hypersensitive. Since shoulder pain can often correlate with neck issues or the cervical spine, various environmental and traumatic factors can cause musculoskeletal conditions like muscular tightness in the neck, disc degeneration, or even cervical spondylosis, which can cause referred pain to the shoulders.
Additionally, many working individuals at a desk job can experience shoulder pain associated with the neck as they are in a forward hunched position that causes significant stress on the soft tissues surrounding and supporting the cervical spine, which can risk the development of neck and shoulder pain. (Moon & Kim, 2023) This is due to the numerous nerve roots that run through the neck and shoulder region, causing the pain signals to invoke referred pain in the soft muscle tissues. At the same time, when people dealing with shoulder pain correlating with the neck are doing repetitive motions, compression, or staying in a fixed position for an extended period, it can become overlapping risk profiles, thus increasing the spread of neck and shoulder pain. (Elsiddig et al., 2022) To that point, when people are dealing with neck problems, it can influence the shoulders, leading to discomfort, reduced mobility, pain, stiffness, and decreased quality of life that can impact a person. (Onda et al., 2022) However, when the shoulder pain associated with the neck becomes too much, many people will seek treatment to reduce the pain.
The Science Of Motion- Video
The Positive Effects Of Electroacupuncture Reducing Shoulder Pain
When many people are looking for alternative and complementary non-surgical therapies, electroacupuncture is the answer for individuals suffering from shoulder pain correlating with the neck. Like traditional acupuncture, electroacupuncture involves electric stimulation and needle insertion into specific points or acupoints on the body by highly trained professionals to enhance therapeutic effects on the affected muscle area. For shoulder pain, electroacupuncture controls pain by activating the central nervous system and inducing the body’s natural biochemicals to promote healing. (Heo et al., 2022) While shoulder pain associated with the neck can arise from a variety of causes, electroacupuncture can target these issues by:
Additionally, electroacupuncture can be combined with physical therapy to reduce neck and shoulder stiffness. When people incorporate exercises that target the neck and shoulders while combining electroacupuncture, they can see a long-term positive effect on pain reduction. (Duenas et al., 2021) The neck and shoulders will have improved flexibility and mobility from the exercises. At the same time, blood flow can help speed up the healing process, and the pain signals are blocked by electroacupuncture. For many individuals dealing with shoulder pain correlating with the neck, electroacupuncture can be an effective treatment to promote healing on the affected muscles and reduce pain.
References
Duenas, L., Aguilar-Rodriguez, M., Voogt, L., Lluch, E., Struyf, F., Mertens, M., Meulemeester, K., & Meeus, M. (2021). Specific versus Non-Specific Exercises for Chronic Neck or Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med, 10(24). doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245946
Elsiddig, A. I., Altalhi, I. A., Althobaiti, M. E., Alwethainani, M. T., & Alzahrani, A. M. (2022). Prevalence of neck and shoulder pain among Saudi universities’ students who are using smartphones and computers. J Family Med Prim Care, 11(1), 194-200. doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1138_21
Heo, J. W., Jo, J. H., Lee, J. J., Kang, H., Choi, T. Y., Lee, M. S., & Kim, J. I. (2022). Electroacupuncture for the treatment of frozen shoulder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne), 9, 928823. doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.928823
Moon, S. E., & Kim, Y. K. (2023). Neck and Shoulder Pain with Scapular Dyskinesis in Computer Office Workers. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 59(12). doi.org/10.3390/medicina59122159
Onda, A., Onozato, K., & Kimura, M. (2022). Clinical features of neck and shoulder pain (Katakori) in Japanese hospital workers. Fukushima J Med Sci, 68(2), 79-87. doi.org/10.5387/fms.2022-02
Suzuki, H., Tahara, S., Mitsuda, M., Izumi, H., Ikeda, S., Seki, K., Nishida, N., Funaba, M., Imajo, Y., Yukata, K., & Sakai, T. (2022). Current Concept of Quantitative Sensory Testing and Pressure Pain Threshold in Neck/Shoulder and Low Back Pain. Healthcare (Basel), 10(8). doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081485
Can individuals dealing with neck pain find relief with electroacupuncture therapy while reducing pain symptoms to restore neck function?
Introduction
The cervical region of the body consists of the neck region, which allows the head to be mobile and stabilized from discomfort or pain. The neck has numerous muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the cervical facet joints and spinal discs. However, when the neck muscles are overstretched or ached from environmental factors or traumatic injuries that cause the head and the neck muscles to whip back and forth rapidly, it can force individuals to deal with not only pain and discomfort from the neck but also the head and shoulders are affected as well. When this happens, many individuals try to find various relief methods to reduce the pain and its associated symptoms. Today’s articles look at how the pain symptoms are associated with the neck, how there are non-surgical treatments for neck pain, and how electroacupuncture can help restore neck function. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to understand better why they are experiencing neck pain. We also inform and guide patients on how non-surgical treatments like electroacupuncture can help restore neck function to the body. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about reducing the impact of neck pain while trying to incorporate various therapeutic reliefs into their bodies. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Are Pain Symptoms Associated with the Neck?
Do you experience stiffness or pain on your neck’s left or right side? Do you constantly get headaches that you have to lie in a dark room to reduce the pain? Or do you experience numbness or tingling sensations on your shoulders and arms? Many of these pain-like scenarios are associated with neck pain. Now similar to back pain, neck pain is a multifactorial musculoskeletal condition that can lead to a socio-economic burden that causes many people to have reduced productivity and job-related problems that can be an issue. (Kazeminasab et al., 2022) Neck pain can be in acute or chronic stages as multiple factors can play the developmental part of neck pain. Some of the environmental factors and traumatic injuries associated with neck pain include:
Poor posture
Whiplash
Degenerative issues
Slouching/hunching position
Sprains or strains
Spinal fractures
When these environmental and traumatic injury factors start to cause issues in the neck region of the body, they can cause pain-like symptoms.
So, how is pain associated with the neck? Well, many individuals dealing with neck pain can either have specific or non-specific neck pain with various symptoms depending on the severity of the pain. While specific neck pain deals with the cervical spine, non-specific neck pain deals with the surrounding muscles and ligaments. To that point, many individuals who are dealing with neck pain are also experiencing somatic referred pain and radicular pain that is associated with neurological signs that make a diagnosis difficult to classify. (Misailidou et al., 2010) This can cause many individuals to experience referred pain in their shoulders and arms or have neurological issues like headaches and tension within their upper body regions, which then causes personal discomfort, disability, and impaired quality of life. (Ben Ayed et al., 2019) But all is not lost, as many individuals seek treatment to reduce the effects of neck pain.
Movement As Medicine- Video
Non-Surgical Treatments For Neck Pain
When it comes to reducing neck pain from environmental factors or traumatic injuries, many people will seek treatments that are affordable and effective in not only decreasing neck pain but also its associated pain-like symptoms. Non-surgical treatments are an excellent way to reduce the effects of neck pain, and they can be combined with other therapies. Some of the non-surgical treatments that are suitable for neck pain include:
Chiropractic care
Acupuncture
Electroacupuncture
Spinal decompression
Massage therapy
Physical therapy
Many individuals dealing with acute neck pain can incorporate non-surgical treatments since they are not only effective through consecutive treatment but are affordable as well. (Chou et al., 2020) This allows many individuals to be more mindful of what factors affect the neck and make small changes to prevent them from returning.
Electroacupuncture Restoring Neck Function
One of the oldest forms of non-surgical treatment is through acupuncture, which originates from China and is performed by highly trained professionals. Depending on how severe the pain is in the neck, many individuals seek out acupuncture therapy or electroacupuncture to reduce the pain. The difference between the two is that acupuncture incorporates thin, solid needles to the specific acupoints in the body that involve the central nervous system. In contrast, electroacupuncture incorporates electric stimulation to become a transformation of energy to block the pain signals that are causing pain in the neck region. (Liu et al., 2022)
Additionally, when the cervical area of the spine has been affected by traumatic forces, it can cause the neck to lose functionality. So, when people incorporate electroacupuncture to restore neck functionality, it has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that regulate the endocannabinoid system. (Wang et al., 2021) This means that the pain receptors from the nerve roots are blocked, and relief forms in the neck. Depending on the severity, many people with neck pain can utilize electroacupuncture consecutively to regain neck mobility and reduce the pain-like effects that are causing them to be miserable. When people think about their health and wellness, they can make small changes to reduce their environmental factors and start living life to the fullest extent possible.
References
Ben Ayed, H., Yaich, S., Trigui, M., Ben Hmida, M., Ben Jemaa, M., Ammar, A., Jedidi, J., Karray, R., Feki, H., Mejdoub, Y., Kassis, M., & Damak, J. (2019). Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Neck, Shoulders and Low-Back Pain in Secondary-School Children. J Res Health Sci, 19(1), e00440. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31133629
Chou, R., Wagner, J., Ahmed, A. Y., Blazina, I., Brodt, E., Buckley, D. I., Cheney, T. P., Choo, E., Dana, T., Gordon, D., Khandelwal, S., Kantner, S., McDonagh, M. S., Sedgley, C., & Skelly, A. C. (2020). In Treatments for Acute Pain: A Systematic Review. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33411426
Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M. J. M., Kolahi, A. A., & Safiri, S. (2022). Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 26. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Liu, R., Li, S., Liu, Y., He, M., Cao, J., Sun, M., Duan, C., & Li, T. (2022). Acupuncture Analgesia in Patients with Postoperative Neck Pain: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2022, 1226702. doi.org/10.1155/2022/1226702
Misailidou, V., Malliou, P., Beneka, A., Karagiannidis, A., & Godolias, G. (2010). Assessment of patients with neck pain: a review of definitions, selection criteria, and measurement tools. J Chiropr Med, 9(2), 49-59. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2010.03.002
Wang, J., Zhang, J., Gao, Y., Chen, Y., Duanmu, C., & Liu, J. (2021). Electroacupuncture Alleviates Hyperalgesia by Regulating CB1 Receptor of Spinal Cord in Incisional Neck Pain Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2021, 5880690. doi.org/10.1155/2021/5880690
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
