Neck pain is very common in people of all ages. It can be very exhausting to suffer with neck pain, which can be caused by many different things including muscle tension, stiff joints, sleeping awkwardly, stress, or simply too much time sitting at your desk or driving. We live in an age now where we sit too much, at our desks, in our cars, and at home in front of the television. We spend a lot of time looking down at mobile phones and tablets, which we simply didn't do only a decade or two ago.

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More serious neck pain can be caused by problems with the discs in the neck which, in turn, can cause nerve pain, pins & needles, numbness or tingling into your arms or hands, or a loss of strength and power in your arms and hands.

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Some headaches can be the result of tension or stiffness in the neck and upper back. Natural age-related wear and tear (osteoarthritis), does not necessarily lead to neck discomfort, however coupled with other factors, it can lead to muscular pain from the neck into the shoulder as well as some stiffness in moving the neck.

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Your neck is formed of the top seven vertebrae in your spine, these are solid, bony blocks reinforced by strong ligaments and muscles. It is surprisingly difficult to damage the spine but if strained, the surrounding muscles and ligaments can cause a lot of discomfort and pain.

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Osteopathy is a safe and effective form of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Neck pain is one of the most common things that we see every day. Some neck pain resolves quickly by itself but if it persists for more than a few days, then an Osteopath may be able to help you to understand what you have done, and what you can do to help yourself get better, as well as provide some hands-on manual therapy to assist further.

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Osteopaths use hands-on techniques together with exercise prescription and further advice designed to promote and maintain the best environment for a healthy back such as sitting (including desk ergonomics), lifting, driving position, sleeping position and posture.

 

Osteopathic treatment is based on the individual needs of the patient and will vary depending on age, fitness and diagnosis but generally focuses on releasing tension, stretching muscles and improving mobility – all of which may help relieve pain. We sometimes use joint manipulation techniques as well but not always, and we will discuss these with you before obtaining your consent to perform such a technique.

 

There is no need to consult a GP before visiting an Osteopath, although you may wish to do so.

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Early diagnosis and treatment can aid your recovery and get you back to normal activities more quickly.  Our aim is to not only get you back to health and be the best you can be, but to also do all we can to help you prevent further recurrence of your problem. Keeping healthy, fit and active will do much to prevent neck and back pain.

 

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