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 individuals dealing with headaches find the relief they are looking for from acupuncture to reduce pain-like symptoms?
Introduction
As part of the musculoskeletal system, the neck is part of the upper body portions and allows the head to be mobile through full rotations without pain and discomfort. The surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons help protect the cervical spinal region and have a fantastic relationship with the shoulders. However, the neck area can succumb to injuries, leading to pain-like symptoms that can cause pain and discomfort in the upper regions. One of the pain-like symptoms that correlates with neck pain is headaches. Headaches can vary in acute to chronic stages as they affect many individuals and the various factors that correlate with them. When headaches start to form, many individuals will look at multiple treatments to reduce the pain-like symptoms that correlate with headaches and have the relief they deserve. Today’s article looks at the various factors that correlate with headaches, how headaches cause overlapping risk profiles with neck pain, and how treatments like acupuncture can reduce headaches. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide treatments like acupuncture to minimize headaches. We also inform and guide patients on how acupuncture can benefit many individuals dealing with neck pain associated with headaches. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about their pain-like symptoms that correlate with headaches and neck pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Various Factors Correlating Headaches
Have you been experiencing tension around the back of your neck after a long day? Do you feel a dull ache after staring at the computer or phone screen? Or do you feel a pounding sensation that you must lie down for a few minutes? Many of these pain-like scenarios are associated with headaches that affect many individuals from time to time. Headaches are correlated with various biochemical and metabolic risk profiles or changes that cause central sensitization and neuronal dysfunction. (Walling, 2020) This causes many individuals to develop acute or chronic pain-like symptoms that affect their heads and various locations around the face and the neck area. Some of the multiple factors that can lead to the development of headaches include:
Stress
Allergies
Tension
Inability to sleep
Lack of water and food
Traumatic injuries
Bright strobing lights
Additionally, other factors like obesity can become a strong risk factor for secondary headaches like migraines to have symptoms of intracranial hypertension impact the body. (Fortini & Felsenfeld Junior, 2022) This could lead to the development of neck pain caused by headaches.
Headaches & Neck Pain
When it comes to headaches associated with neck pain, many individuals will experience tension and pain in the surrounding muscles and the ongoing symptoms. Neck pain can cause overlapping risk profiles to muscles, ligaments, facet joints, and visceral structures of the neck that can trigger the development of a headache or become a symptom that co-exists with a neck disorder. (Vicente et al., 2023) Additionally, neck pain and headaches are strongly associated as muscular pain plays a role in headache development as they provide negative consequences within their social lives. Headaches can hinder a person’s ability to concentrate, while neck pain causes limited mobility and stiffness. (Rodriguez-Almagro et al., 2020)
Tension Headaches Overview- Video
Acupuncture Reducing Headaches
When individuals are dealing with headaches, many will incorporate home remedies to reduce the tension they are experiencing from the various factors. This can provide temporary relief to mitigate the effects of the pain-like symptoms associated with headaches. However, when the pain from headaches becomes unbearable with neck pain in the mix, that is where non-surgical treatments could be the answer. Non-surgical treatments are effective on pain caused by headaches and customized to the person’s pain. For example, acupuncture could help with headaches and neck pain. Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of non-surgical treatments; highly trained professionals use solid thin needles to be placed in various acupoints in the body to restore energy flow and reducing pain associated with headaches. (Turkistani et al., 2021)
Acupuncture can even help reduce the frequency and duration of headaches while disrupting the pain signals and help provide insight into the positive effects of pain reduction. (Li et al., 2020) When people start incorporating acupuncture as part of their health and wellness treatment plan, they will feel their headaches reduced and their neck mobility back to normal. Through consecutive treatment, they will feel much better and become more aware of the various factors pertaining to headache production while making small changes to reduce their chances of returning.
Li, Y. X., Xiao, X. L., Zhong, D. L., Luo, L. J., Yang, H., Zhou, J., He, M. X., Shi, L. H., Li, J., Zheng, H., & Jin, R. J. (2020). Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture for Migraine: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Pain Res Manag, 2020, 3825617. doi.org/10.1155/2020/3825617
Rodriguez-Almagro, D., Achalandabaso-Ochoa, A., Molina-Ortega, F. J., Obrero-Gaitan, E., Ibanez-Vera, A. J., & Lomas-Vega, R. (2020). Neck Pain- and Unsteadiness-Inducing Activities and their Relationship to the Presence, Intensity, Frequency, and Disability of Headaches. Brain Sci, 10(7). doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10070425
Turkistani, A., Shah, A., Jose, A. M., Melo, J. P., Luenam, K., Ananias, P., Yaqub, S., & Mohammed, L. (2021). Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Acupuncture in Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 13(8), e17601. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.17601
Vicente, B. N., Oliveira, R., Martins, I. P., & Gil-Gouveia, R. (2023). Cranial Autonomic Symptoms and Neck Pain in Differential Diagnosis of Migraine. Diagnostics (Basel), 13(4). doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13040590
Walling, A. (2020). Frequent Headaches: Evaluation and Management. American Family Physician, 101(7), 419-428. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32227826
Can individuals dealing with neck pain incorporate acupuncture as part of their health and wellness treatment to relieve headaches?
Introduction
As part of the musculoskeletal system, the neck allows the head to go into full rotation without feeling discomfort or pain. The neck is part of the cervical spine region and is surrounded by numerous ligaments, muscles, and tissues that help protect the spinal cord and the spinal column. However, the neck is also the most susceptible to injury neck to back pain as it is one the top three complaints many individuals suffer from at some point in their lives. When people experience neck pain, numerous causes can contribute to developing neck pain, while pain-like symptoms like headaches contribute to the body. This causes many individuals to seek treatment and find the relief they are looking for to reduce neck pain while continuing their daily routine. Today’s article looks at how neck pain is associated with headaches and how treatments like acupuncture can help with neck pain and reduce the painful effects of headaches. We talk with certified medical providers who utilize our patients’ information to provide acupuncture treatments to lessen the impact of headaches caused by neck pain. We also inform patients how multiple non-surgical treatments can help reduce headaches and pain-like symptoms associated with neck pain. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from neck pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Neck Pain & Headaches
Have you been experiencing unexplained stiffness along the sides of your neck? Do you feel a dull ache at the base of your neck or skull after looking down at your phone for an extended period? Or do you experience frequent headaches that are constant throughout the day? Many people dealing with these pain-like issues are associated with neck pain that is affecting their quality of life. Neck pain is amongst the top three complaints many people have experienced at some point. Neck pain has common presenting symptoms that are diagnosed, and the prevalence is much higher in older adults due to degenerative spinal changes in the facet joints and spinal discs. (Childress & Stuek, 2020) Many individuals experience common musculoskeletal pain conditions like muscle strains and stiffness when this happens. At the same time, neck pain can also be associated with neurological conditions that cause overlapping risk profiles, forcing many individuals to miss out on important events. Neck pain is a multifactorial musculoskeletal condition affecting many individuals as it induces them to miss work. This is because various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors contribute to developing neck pain. (Kazeminasab et al., 2022) These risk factors can range from physical inactivity to poor posture, causing overlapping risk profiles that can trigger neck pain to advance over time.
So, how are headaches associated with neck pain? When a person is experiencing a headache, many would often think that the headaches are caused by not eating enough food or drinking enough water. Those are some of the factors that contribute to headaches, but they can also be due to the stress and comorbidities that are associated with neck pain. This is due to the risk factors many individuals don’t realize contribute to neck pain. Factors like the forward head position from smartphone usage cause tension on the cervical structures, generating potential degeneration and tearing of the neck structures. (Maayah et al., 2023) As repetitive motions affect the neck structure more over time, the nerve roots that surround the spine and spread through the upper extremities can become aggravated, and cause referred pain to different areas of the body, leading to headaches. When dealing with headaches associated with neck pain, they will feel stress, affecting their productivity. The headaches can range from acute to chronic, depending on the severity. Fortunately, many individuals dealing with headaches associated with neck pain will seek treatment to reduce the pain-like symptoms and feel the relief to return to their daily routine.
Healing After Trauma- Video
Many individuals who are dealing with neck pain often deal with headaches as a sign that risk factors are in play, like poor posture, slouching, or traumatic injuries that can affect their ability to work or participate in activities. This can cause many people to feel miserable and decrease their quality of life, thus causing them to seek out treatment for their pain, hence why many individuals opt for non-surgical treatments due to them being affordable and personalized. Non-surgical treatments range from chiropractic care to acupuncture, depending on the severity and location of where the pain is in the body. The video above shows how non-surgical treatments can help many individuals positively influence healing after a traumatic injury and restore a person’s well-being.
Acupuncture For Neck Pain
Non-surgical treatments are excellent for individuals trying to find the relief they seek in their neck pain. As stated earlier, non-surgical treatments are cost-effective and tailored to the person’s pain. Acupuncture is a form of non-surgical treatment that can help reduce the comorbidities associated with neck pain. Acupuncture is a medical practice in which highly trained, licensed, and certified professionals use solid, super-thin needles to be placed at specific points to treat the body. What this does is that when the needles are penetrating the points, it will begin to open any blockage or excess energy to flow correctly, restore balance to the body, and relieve the individual’s symptoms. (Berger et al., 2021) Some of the beneficial results that acupuncture can provide individuals with neck pain is a reduction of pain and disability to the neck while treating referred pain that is causing overlapping risk profiles to induce headaches. (Peron et al., 2022)
Acupuncture Relieving Headaches
Since headaches are associated with neck pain, acupuncture can help relieve the headaches from progressing further and enable many individuals to get back to their routine. Some overlapping risk profiles contributing to headaches include trigger points on the neck muscles that can cause non-dermatomal referral pain and discomfort. (Pourahmadi et al., 2019) When an acupuncturist is treating individuals for their headaches, many individuals will begin to feel the relief after a few consecutive sessions, and, combined with physical therapy to strengthen neck and shoulder muscles, will notice that the pain has been reduced significantly. Acupuncture is a safe, helpful, and available alternative treatment that is beneficial for many individuals dealing with headaches associated with neck pain. (Urits et al., 2020) By incorporating acupuncture as part of a person’s treatment plan, they can begin to feel the relief they deserve while also being more mindful of how they are treating their bodies to prevent pain-like symptoms from returning.
References
Berger, A. A., Liu, Y., Mosel, L., Champagne, K. A., Ruoff, M. T., Cornett, E. M., Kaye, A. D., Imani, F., Shakeri, A., Varrassi, G., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2021). Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in the Treatment of Neck Pain. Anesth Pain Med, 11(2), e113627. doi.org/10.5812/aapm.113627
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
Maayah, M. F., Nawasreh, Z. H., Gaowgzeh, R. A. M., Neamatallah, Z., Alfawaz, S. S., & Alabasi, U. M. (2023). Neck pain associated with smartphone usage among university students. PLOS ONE, 18(6), e0285451. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285451
Peron, R., Rampazo, E. P., & Liebano, R. E. (2022). Traditional acupuncture and laser acupuncture in chronic nonspecific neck pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 23(1), 408. doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06349-y
Pourahmadi, M., Mohseni-Bandpei, M. A., Keshtkar, A., Koes, B. W., Fernandez-de-Las-Penas, C., Dommerholt, J., & Bahramian, M. (2019). Effectiveness of dry needling for improving pain and disability in adults with tension-type, cervicogenic, or migraine headaches: protocol for a systematic review. Chiropr Man Therap, 27, 43. doi.org/10.1186/s12998-019-0266-7
Urits, I., Patel, M., Putz, M. E., Monteferrante, N. R., Nguyen, D., An, D., Cornett, E. M., Hasoon, J., Kaye, A. D., & Viswanath, O. (2020). Acupuncture and Its Role in the Treatment of Migraine Headaches. Neurol Ther, 9(2), 375-394. doi.org/10.1007/s40120-020-00216-1
For individuals dealing with neck or arm pain and migraine headache symptoms it could be a splenius capitis muscle injury. Can knowing the causes and symptoms help healthcare providers develop an effective treatment plan?
Splenius Capitis Muscles
The splenius capitis is a deep muscle located on the upper back. Along with the splenius cervicis, it comprises the superficial layer – one of the three – of intrinsic back muscles. The splenius capitis works with the splenius cervicis, a smaller muscle located below it, to help rotate the neck and lower the chin to the chest, known as flexing. Maintaining a healthy posture is important because it helps keep the head in a neutral position.
Starting at the midline of the spine at C3 to T3, the splenius capitis spans the levels between the 7th cervical vertebra to the 3rd or 4th thoracic vertebrae, which varies for different individuals.
The muscle inserts at the nuchal ligament, which is a strong ligament of the neck.
The splenius capitis muscle angles up and out, attaching to the skull.
The splenius capitis and cervicis cover the vertical paraspinals, which are deeper and comprise the intermediate layer of the intrinsic back muscles.
The splenius muscles look like a bandage for the paraspinals and the vertical muscles that comprise the deepest layer.
The splenius muscles hold these deeper layers in the correct position.
These muscles start at the center of the spine and together form a V shape.
The sides of the V are thick, and the central indentation is shallow.
Pain
It’s common for individuals to experience pain associated with injury to the splenius capitis. This type of pain is known as splenius capitis syndrome. (Ernest E, Ernest M. 2011)
Symptoms
A headache stemming from injury often mimics a migraine headache. Symptoms of splenius capitis syndrome include: (Ernest E, Ernest M. 2011)
It’s recommended to contact a healthcare provider if experiencing symptoms that interfere with daily activities or quality of life. A healthcare provider will:
Can individuals dealing with neck and back pain find the relief they need from the effects of spinal decompression therapy?
Introduction
Across the world, many individuals deal with neck or back pain from excessive sitting or standing, poor posture, or lifting heavy objects that cause their spine and muscles to ache constantly. Since the body is in constant movement, the spine is being compressed through repetitive movement that can cause the spinal discs to pop out of their original position and aggravate the surrounding nerves to cause pain-like symptoms in the neck and back regions. Many people start to complain about their necks and backs hurting and feeling referred pain in different locations in the upper and lower body portions. This can range from acute to chronic, depending on the severity of the pain. When people are experiencing these musculoskeletal pain disorders in their bodies, many will seek treatment to alleviate the pain in their necks and backs to return to their daily routines. Hence why, treatments like spinal decompression can have a positive effect on providing the relief that many individuals deserve. Today’s article looks at why the neck and back in the human body are the most common pain areas many people endure and how spinal decompression can reduce neck and back pain. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various techniques to relieve neck and back pain from the body. We also inform patients how treatments like decompression can reduce musculoskeletal pain disorders from the neck and back. We encourage our patients to ask intricated questions to our associated medical providers about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing correlating with their neck and back. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Why Are The Neck & Back Common Pain Areas?
Do you feel muscle tension in your neck after being hunched on the computer or your phone for a long time? Do you feel aches and pains in your back after carrying or lifting a heavy object? Or do you feel tingling or numbness in your arms or legs? Many of these pain-like symptoms are often correlated with neck and back pain that can be a nuisance to many individuals. So why is it that the neck and back of the human body are the most common pain areas that many people worldwide endure? Many people with highly demanding jobs often perform normal movements repetitively, which causes stress on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and joints, and the accessory muscles will begin to be overworked and tight. Neck and back pain are amongst the most common symptom-related complaints that contribute to high levels of lost workdays, disability, and health care use. (Corwell & Davis, 2020) This causes many individuals to have unwanted socio-economic stress when they visit their primary care doctors. Additionally, neck and back pain are non-neurologic causes in the musculoskeletal system; these can generate pain in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, spinal discs, articular cartilage, and bone. (Meleger & Krivickas, 2007) To that point, when neck and back pain are not treated right away, it can lead to correlating pain symptoms that can lead to a life of disability. Since the spine has multiple structures, from the neck to the lower back, when a person is in pain, it can lead to various pain generators that can cause some visceral pain. (Patel et al., 2015) Hence why, neck and back pain are multi-factorial and lead to numerous disorders.
When it comes to reducing neck and back pain from the body, many individuals will seek medical treatment to relieve themselves from the pain. However, many primary care doctors will assess their patients to determine what the root cause of their pain by taking notes of their daily routine. Many normal causes of neck and back pain can be due to:
Poor Posture
Stress
Physical Inactivity
Trauma/Injuries
Excessive sitting/standing
Lifting/carrying heavy objects
These causes can lead to a life of disability and affect a person’s quality of life; however, luckily, many individuals have researched and looked for treatment that is cost-effective and can help reduce the pain they are experiencing.
Understanding Academic Low Back Pain- Video
Do you feel aches and pains in your neck and back? Do you feel stress in your muscles that cause you to feel miserable? Or do you feel pain in your upper or lower body portions affecting your daily routine? Many of these scenarios correlate with neck and back pain, a common issue many individuals experience. If not treated right away, it can lead to a life of disability and, for working individuals, lose a day of work. However, many individuals seek cost-effective treatments that can help reduce the pain affecting their necks and back. Treatments like chiropractic care, traction therapy, massage therapy, and spinal decompression are all non-surgical, affordable, and can help reduce pain-like symptoms associated with neck and back pain. The video above explains the causes of academic low back pain and how non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care can work with additional therapies to prevent back and neck pain from returning. At the same time, when individuals begin to reduce their workload and educate themselves on what to do to avoid neck and back pain from returning, they can start feeling better. (Tyrdal et al., 2022)
The Effects Of Decompression On Neck & Back Pain
As part of the non-surgical treatments, spinal decompression can help many individuals dealing with neck and back pain. What spinal decompression does is incorporate gentle traction on the spine to decompress the affected spinal disc that can be associated with neck and back pain. When the spine is being treated with spinal decompression, the gravitational traction pull helps produce a greater disc space on the spine to decrease intradiscal pressure and pain. (Vanti et al., 2021) This allows all the nutrients and fluids to return to the spine and spinal discs while promoting the body’s natural healing process.
Additionally, many individuals with neck and back pain will begin to notice a huge reduction in their pain and disability through consecutive treatment. (Vanti et al., 2023) By incorporating healthy habits to reduce the chances of neck and back pain from returning, many individuals can make small changes to their daily routine. This allows them to have a positive outlook and continue their health and wellness journey.
References
Corwell, B. N., & Davis, N. L. (2020). The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Neck and Back Pain. Emerg Med Clin North Am, 38(1), 167-191. doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2019.09.007
Meleger, A. L., & Krivickas, L. S. (2007). Neck and back pain: musculoskeletal disorders. Neurol Clin, 25(2), 419-438. doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2007.01.006
Patel, V. B., Wasserman, R., & Imani, F. (2015). Interventional Therapies for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Focused Review (Efficacy and Outcomes). Anesth Pain Med, 5(4), e29716. doi.org/10.5812/aapm.29716
Tyrdal, M. K., Veierod, M. B., Roe, C., Natvig, B., Wahl, A. K., & Stendal Robinson, H. (2022). Neck and back pain: Differences between patients treated in primary and specialist health care. J Rehabil Med, 54, jrm00300. doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v54.363
Vanti, C., Saccardo, K., Panizzolo, A., Turone, L., Guccione, A. A., & Pillastrini, P. (2023). The effects of the addition of mechanical traction to physical therapy on low back pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc, 57(1), 3-16. doi.org/10.5152/j.aott.2023.21323
Vanti, C., Turone, L., Panizzolo, A., Guccione, A. A., Bertozzi, L., & Pillastrini, P. (2021). Vertical traction for lumbar radiculopathy: a systematic review. Arch Physiother, 11(1), 7. doi.org/10.1186/s40945-021-00102-5
Individuals with neck and shoulder pain may experience what feels like tightened lumps or knots in and around the muscles where the neck and shoulder meet. Can using kinesiology tape for neck and shoulder trigger points help to loosen and release them, restore function, and bring pain relief?
Kinesiology Tape For Neck and Shoulder Trigger Points
The upper trapezius and levator scapula muscles are where the shoulder and neck come together and are often the location of trigger point formations. These trigger points can cause tension, pain, and muscular spasms in the neck and shoulders. Various treatments for releasing trigger points and alleviating the pain symptoms include therapeutic massage, trigger point release, and chiropractic adjustments in a multidisciplinary treatment approach.
Electrical stimulation and ultrasound have often been used to break up the knots, but scientific evidence has shown that these treatments alone are not the most effective. (David O. Draper et al., 2010)
Stretching the neck muscles can bring tension relief and help release the knots.
Kinesiology tape can decrease the pain and spasms and help to release the trigger points.
Therapy
Using kinesiology tape is a form of physical therapy that can be used in various ways.
The tape helps lift the upper tissues from underlying tissues to increase circulation and release muscular spasms.
It can help improve muscular contractions, decrease swelling, and inhibit pain in injured tissues.
Helps stop the trigger points and knots from worsening.
The tape can also be used for managing lymphedema.
Usage
To decrease trigger points, individuals can use a specific kinesiology tape strip called a lift strip. Individuals can consult their healthcare provider or physical therapist to show them the various types of strips to learn how to cut them properly.
Before using kinesiology tape, consult a healthcare provider or physical therapist to assess the injury and situation.
Kinesiology tape is not for everyone, and some people have conditions where the use of kinesiology tape should be avoided altogether.
A therapist can evaluate the neck pain and trigger points to determine if the individual should use kinesiology tape.
To use kinesiology tape for neck and shoulder trigger points:
Get comfortable with the neck and shoulders exposed.
Cut one lift strip for each side of the neck, if necessary.
The lift strip should be around 3 to 4 inches long.
Remove the paper backing in the center with the exposed tape in the center, which should look like a band-aid.
Both ends of the lift strip should still have the paper backing on.
Stretch out the kinesiology tape.
Place the stretched tape directly over the trigger points in the upper shoulder area.
Remove the backing on either side of the lift strip and place the ends on without stretching.
Gently rub the tape to help the adhesive adhere.
Once the tape has been applied, it can be left there for 2 to 5 days.
It’s ok if it gets wet with a bath or shower.
Monitor the skin around the tape to watch for redness or other signs of a negative reaction to the tape.
Kinesiology taping can be a useful tool to decrease pain and spasms but does not replace professional treatment, prescribed exercises and stretches, and posture retraining.
The physical therapy team will teach proper self-care strategies for the individual’s condition.
For individuals with neck and shoulder pain and muscle spasms, a trial of kinesiology taping may help alleviate symptoms and improve the overall injury.
The Non-Surgical Approach to Wellness with Chiropractic Care
References
Draper, D. O., Mahaffey, C., Kaiser, D., Eggett, D., & Jarmin, J. (2010). Thermal ultrasound decreases tissue stiffness of trigger points in upper trapezius muscles. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 26(3), 167–172. doi.org/10.3109/09593980903423079
Many individuals attribute to some degree, their neck or back pain to unhealthy posture. Can knowing the causes and underlying factors help guide lifestyle adjustments and seeking medical rehabilitative treatment?
Unhealthy Posture Causes
Numerous factors can cause individuals to practice unhealthy postures regularly.
Unhealthy posture can also be brought on by an injury, illness, or genetics.
A combination of these factors is also common.
Practicing healthy posture is a form of exercise where the muscles support the skeleton in stable and efficient alignment that is present in stillness and movement.
Injury and Muscle Guarding
After an injury, muscles can spasm to protect the body and help stabilize injuries and protect against further injury.
However, movements become limited and can lead to pain symptoms.
Prolonged muscle spasms lead to weakened muscles over time.
The imbalance between muscles guarding the injury and those still operating normally can lead to posture problems.
Musculoskeletal treatment with massage, chiropractic, and physical therapy can help restore optimal functioning.
Muscle Tension and Weakness
If certain muscle groups become weak or tense, posture can be affected, and pain symptoms can develop.
Muscle weakness or tension can develop when individuals hold a prolonged position day after day or when performing routine tasks and chores in a way that places tension on the muscles or uses them in an unbalanced way.
Postural retraining and physical therapy adjustments can help strengthen the muscles and relieve pain symptoms.
Daily Habits
As individuals find ways to accommodate muscle spasms, weakness, tension, and/or imbalances, the mind and body can forget and abandon healthy posture.
The body then begins compensating using alternate, awkward, and counterproductive muscle contractions and stretching that compromise body and spinal alignment.
Use of Technology
Technology – whether sitting at a desk/workstation, using a tablet or cell phone, or working with several devices can gradually shift the body out of alignment. (Parisa Nejati, et al., 2015)
Individuals constantly looking down at their phone may develop a text neck, a condition in which the neck is held in flexion or forward tilting too long, which can lead to pain.
Mental Attitude and Stress
Individuals under stress or are experiencing stressful situations can begin to have posture problems. (Shwetha Nair et al., 2015)
Stress can contribute to over-contracting muscles, which can cause muscle tension, shallow breathing, posture problems, and pain symptoms.
Being aware of body position and correcting and adjusting posture can help to counteract stress. (Shwetha Nair et al., 2015)
Wearing down the outside or inside of the shoes faster from things like weight-bearing habits will imbalance kinetic forces that translate up the ankle, knee, hip, and lower back leading to pain symptoms in any or all of these joints.
Heredity and Genetics
Sometimes the cause is hereditary.
For example, Scheuermann’s disease is a condition in which adolescent males develop a pronounced kyphosis curve in the thoracic spine. (Nemours. KidsHealth. 2022)
Consult Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic for an evaluation, and let us help you by developing a personalized treatment and rehabilitation program.
The Path To Healing
References
Czaprowski, D., Stoliński, Ł., Tyrakowski, M., Kozinoga, M., & Kotwicki, T. (2018). Non-structural misalignments of body posture in the sagittal plane. Scoliosis and spinal disorders, 13, 6. doi.org/10.1186/s13013-018-0151-5
Nejati, P., Lotfian, S., Moezy, A., & Nejati, M. (2015). The study of correlation between forward head posture and neck pain in Iranian office workers. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health, 28(2), 295–303. doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00352
Nair, S., Sagar, M., Sollers, J., 3rd, Consedine, N., & Broadbent, E. (2015). Do slumped and upright postures affect stress responses? A randomized trial. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 34(6), 632–641. doi.org/10.1037/hea0000146
Silva, A. M., de Siqueira, G. R., & da Silva, G. A. (2013). Implications of high-heeled shoes on body posture of adolescents. Revista paulista de pediatria : orgao oficial da Sociedade de Pediatria de Sao Paulo, 31(2), 265–271. doi.org/10.1590/s0103-05822013000200020
Can various therapeutic options provide relief for individuals with upper crossed syndrome to restore muscle strength?
Introduction
Many individuals often suffer neck and shoulder pain from poor posture, improper heavy lifting, musculoskeletal conditions, auto accidents, whiplash, etc. The surrounding muscles that connect the neck and shoulders help protect the cervical and thoracic region of the spine and can succumb to injuries that can cause pain-like symptoms causing discomfort to the individual. Neck, shoulder, and back pain are the three most common issues many individuals have experienced. These musculoskeletal disorders can also correlate with pre-existing conditions; many people will feel pain and discomfort while trying to find the relief they seek. One of the most common issues people often experience is upper crossed syndrome, which can be associated with neck and shoulder pain. Today’s article explains what upper cross syndrome is and how it affects the neck and shoulders while also diving into how different therapeutic options like spinal decompression and chiropractic care can reduce the effects of upper cross syndrome. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatment plans to mitigate upper-crossed syndrome in the neck and shoulders. We also inform our patients that there are many therapeutic options, like chiropractic care and spinal decompression, to minimize muscle pain in the neck and shoulders. We encourage our patients to ask intricated and educational questions to our associated medical providers about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing correlating with upper-crossed syndrome. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
What Is Upper Crossed Syndrome?
Have you been dealing with muscle pain in your shoulders or neck after being on the computer for a while? Do you feel stiffness in your shoulders that rotating them causes temporary relief? Or does it hurt when you turn your head from side to side? Many of these pain-like scenarios are often associated with upper-cross syndrome. Many people don’t often realize that upper crossed syndrome is a musculoskeletal condition that affects the neck, shoulder, and chest muscles and causes them to be weak and tight due to poor posture. The upper crossed syndrome can cause referred pain to the upper extremities, leading to cervicogenic headaches, limited range of motion, trigger points in the muscles, and muscle imbalance. (Moore, 2004) When many people are dealing with upper crossed syndrome due to poor posture, it can lead to many issues in the neck and shoulders.
How Does It Affect The Neck & Shoulders?
Now, why does upper crossed syndrome affect the neck and shoulders? Many people unintentionally hunched over when looking at their phones, being on the computer, or relaxing at home. This causes specific muscles in the neck and shoulder region, like the serratus and lower trapezius muscles, to become weak while the pectoral and neck muscles are tight. (Chu & Butler, 2021) This, in turn, causes the shoulders to be more rounded and hunched, causing the neck and head to crane forward. When people are dealing with upper crossed syndrome, many would often complain about pain-like symptoms like:
Headaches
Neck Strain
Muscle tightness
Upper back pain
Restricted range of motion
Numbness/Tingling sensations in the arms
The upper crossed syndrome can also occur gradually over time and cause nerve compression to the upper extremities. When the upper neck and shoulder muscles start to affect the surrounding nerve roots, which then leads to nerve dysfunction in the sensory and motor skills when a person picks up an object. (Lee & Lim, 2019) However, many individuals dealing with upper-crossed syndrome can seek treatment to relieve muscle pain in their neck and shoulders.
An Overview Of Upper Crossed Syndrome- Video
Since upper cross syndrome is a musculoskeletal condition that affects the neck and shoulders, it can result in muscle imbalance and pain in the individual. Many people, especially in the working field, develop this syndrome by being hunched over for an extended period. (Mujawar & Sagar, 2019) This causes the head to be more forward, the neck posture to be curved and hunched, and the shoulders to be rounded. The video above explains upper-crossing syndrome, its causes, and how it is treated.
Numerous treatments can help restore muscle strength and reduce muscle pain in the neck and shoulders. Treatments like spinal decompression can help reduce upper crossed syndrome by slowly using gentle traction to the cervical spine region and gently stretching the neck muscles to provide relief. Spinal decompression is one of the non-surgical treatments that many individuals with headaches associated with upper crossed syndrome can find the comfort they seek through pain reduction and improve their quality of life. (Eskilsson et al., 2021) At the same time, spinal decompression can be part of a personalized treatment plan that many individuals can add to their daily routine to prevent the pain from returning. (Saunders, 1983)
Chiropractic Care Restoring Muscle Strength
Just like spinal decompression, chiropractic care is a non-surgical treatment that can be combined with various stretching techniques to restore the neck’s range of motion and reduce pain associated with upper-crossed syndrome. (Mahmood et al., 2021) Chiropractic care incorporates manual and mechanical techniques like MET (muscle energy techniques) and spinal manipulation to realign the spine out of subluxation. When chiropractors integrate MET to manage upper crossed syndrome, many individuals find that their pain has decreased, their cervical range of motion is improved, and their neck disability is reduced. (Gillani et al., 2020) When many individuals start thinking about their health and wellness, they can make small changes to improve their posture and be more mindful of their bodies to reduce the chances of upper-cross syndrome returning.
References
Chu, E. C., & Butler, K. R. (2021). Resolution of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Following Correction for Upper Cross Syndrome-A Case Study and Brief Review. Clin Pract, 11(2), 322-326. doi.org/10.3390/clinpract11020045
Eskilsson, A., Ageberg, E., Ericson, H., Marklund, N., & Anderberg, L. (2021). Decompression of the greater occipital nerve improves outcome in patients with chronic headache and neck pain – a retrospective cohort study. Acta Neurochir (Wien), 163(9), 2425-2433. doi.org/10.1007/s00701-021-04913-0
Gillani, S. N., Ain, Q., Rehman, S. U., & Masood, T. (2020). Effects of eccentric muscle energy technique versus static stretching exercises in the management of cervical dysfunction in upper cross syndrome: a randomized control trial. J Pak Med Assoc, 70(3), 394-398. doi.org/10.5455/JPMA.300417
Lee, E. Y., & Lim, A. Y. T. (2019). Nerve Compression in the Upper Limb. Clin Plast Surg, 46(3), 285-293. doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2019.03.001
Mahmood, T., Afzal, W., Ahmad, U., Arif, M. A., & Ahmad, A. (2021). Comparative effectiveness of routine physical therapy with and without instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization in patients with neck pain due to upper crossed syndrome. J Pak Med Assoc, 71(10), 2304-2308. doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.03-415
Moore, M. K. (2004). Upper crossed syndrome and its relationship to cervicogenic headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 27(6), 414-420. doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.05.007
Mujawar, J. C., & Sagar, J. H. (2019). Prevalence of Upper Cross Syndrome in Laundry Workers. Indian J Occup Environ Med, 23(1), 54-56. doi.org/10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_169_18
Saunders, H. D. (1983). Use of spinal traction in the treatment of neck and back conditions. Clin Orthop Relat Res(179), 31-38. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6617030
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