Neck pain is a quite common medical condition. A majority of people will experience pain in neck at some point in their lives with women having higher problems of chronic pain. Pain medication often is the first action for defense against neck pain but it generally does not solve the problem and many drugs involve the risk of risky side effects. Whereas chiropractic is an alternative medicine approach which generally does not involve any side-effects. Chiropractic cure for neck pain, including spinal manipulation, spinal adjustments, and ultrasound, is a non-invasive and drug-free therapy. Thus neck pain treatment is not usually painful using chiropractic methods.
The chiropractic doctor will first ask about the intensity and duration of your pain and other questions that will yield vital clues and then proceeds to the actual chiropractic cure. Mild to moderate neck pain is usually the temporary result of improper posture or carelessness while performing daily activities, whereas severe neck pain is a sign of a inborn defect such as scoliosis, an injury from some recent accident, or progressive age-related wear and tear. Chiropractic treatment is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. Though a chiropractic practitioner uses many of the same criteria as a physician while treating neck pain, chiropractic medical history places greater weight on the fact that the neck is simply one part of the integrated biomechanical system that is the human spine. In some cases which include accompanying shoulder or arm pain are considered in context of chiropractic neck pain.
Spinal manipulation and spinal adjustments or also known as chiropractic adjustments are an important part of the treatment plan for chiropractic neck pain. Subluxations occur when one or more vertebrae move elsewhere in position, hence creating pressure and irritation near the spinal nerves. The drug-free chiropractic therapy merely involves the chiropractic doctor using his or her hands to treat these subluxations Spinal manipulation and chiropractic adjustments can fix the subluxations, reduce pain in the soft tissues, boost circulation, and stimulate the nervous system of the body.
Opposing the popular belief, these spinal manipulation and chiropractic adjustments are not painful. When a patient seeks chiropractic treatment for neck pain, the treatment plan devised is precise and gentle. Chiropractic practitioners are trained as experts in the spine and know how to manually return motion to constrained spinal joints. These experts do not just "pop" or "crack" bones until something "snaps" back into place.
Ultrasound is a further popular non-invasive therapy that is used in chiropractic cure to treat neck pain. Ultrasound functions by helping to increase blood circulation, which as a result reduces swelling, stiffness, and painful muscle spasms.
After spinal manipulation, chiropractic adjustments, or ultrasound, the chiropractic doctor may recommend the use of an ice pack on your neck to further control swelling. This cold therapy can be done at home and is an add-on to traditional chiropractic treatment for neck pain.
A chiropractic expert may also suggest exercise, diet, or lifestyle changes to strengthen muscles, improve your range of motion, and prevent a painful relapse. If condition does not seem to be improving the patient may be referred to another specialist for further treatment.
