Physical Therapy as Neck Pain Treatment

The American Osteopathic Association reported that more than 25 percent of the population suffer from neck pain. If you’re wondering if physical therapy is a viable neck pain treatment, we’ll share some essential information in today’s post.

A variety of health conditions can cause neck pain. No matter what the cause is, the symptoms can debilitate a person and impact their day-to-day life negatively. On top of that, neck pain can contribute to other illnesses, such as back pain and migraines.

Effective Neck Pain Treatment

Physical therapy, when administered by a licensed physical therapist, is an effective neck pain treatment. As a patient, however, physical therapy’s success as a neck pain treatment will also rely on your participation.

On top of the actual physical therapy, there are activities you can do to facilitate the recovery process. These additional activities will help in your neck paint treatment efforts, eventually leading to long-lasting relief and positive results.

Part of an effective neck pain rehabilitation program is the commitment and dedication of the patient in completing the treatment.

The Treatment of Neck Pain Will Depend on Its Source

Typically, neck pain can be caused by poor posture, strained neck muscles, uncomfortable sleeping positions, or accidents. In addition to these reasons, neck pain can be caused by a more severe underlying illness such as pinched nerves, disc herniation, or muscle spasm.

The type of neck pain treatment you need will depend on the cause of your condition. Your doctor or physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your illness, discuss your health history, and include a series of tests and observations.

All those things will determine the best course of neck pain treatment you will take to help alleviate your pain and discomfort and get rid of the symptoms altogether.

Physical therapy is one of the most viable treatments for neck pain and discomfort. When you work with a physical therapist, you can improve your quality of life and enhance your strength, balance, and flexibility.

A physical therapy regimen specifically tailored to cater to your individual needs will be sure to treat the causes of your neck pain. We strongly recommend visiting your local physical therapist so you can work on a personalized rehabilitation program.

Neck Exercises

A combination of strengthening and stretching exercises is part of a neck pain treatment program. Strengthening exercises focus on improving posture. These exercises should be done every other day so that the neck muscles won’t be overworked.

Stretching exercises for the neck, on the other hand, can be done multiple times a day. These stretches focus on the flexibility of your neck and reduced stiffness.

However, if you overdo these neck exercises, the muscles won’t have time to heal, which will only lengthen the recovery period. Your physical therapist will give you a detailed plan and schedule on how often you should do these neck exercises by yourself.

Hot and Cold Therapy

Heat therapy helps in alleviating muscle stiffness. Electrical heating pads, moist heating packs, or steamed towels can be applied on the affected area.

Make sure that the temperature is warm and not overly hot. The warm temperature can penetrate under the skin and reach the affected muscles. The longer you can take the heat, the better the therapy will work.

Cold therapy, on the other hand, is used after a stretching or exercise routine.

The cold helps slow down the blood circulation, which will then lessen any inflammation, discomfort, or pain.

You can use cold compresses or ice packs for cold therapy. Also, you only need to apply it for a short while for it to take effect.

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