Physio for Neck Pain | Does Physio Help Neck Pain?

Neck pain and stiffness can be very overwhelming and can negatively impact your quality of life. The good news is that physiotherapy is an effective method for relieving neck pain and headaches. A variety of issues can cause this kind of radiating pain around the neck, from muscle strain and poor posture to injuries and other underlying medical conditions.

At Align HC, we want to make sure you get the right treatment and exercises for neck pain. This article zeroes in on the different kinds of neck pain, how physio for neck strain works, and the benefits!

Key Takeaways

Acute neck pain usually lasts a few days and is caused by whiplash, poor posture, or sudden movements.
Degenerative conditions often cause chronic neck pain, which typically lasts more than 3 months.
The most common symptoms of neck pain are stiffness, dull aches, sharp pains, reduced range of motion, and pins and needles.
Physiotherapy can help with neck pain through strengthening exercises, manual therapy, mobilisation, and soft tissue manipulation.

What are the Different Types of Neck Pain?

Before you get a physio for neck pain, it’s important to understand the different kinds. This will help your physio give you the most effective treatment and neck exercises!

Acute Neck Pain

This type of head and neck pain comes up suddenly and is usually triggered by an injury or strain. If you experience neck pain at an acute level, it will typically last from a few days to 6 weeks. This neck pain can result from whiplash from car accidents, muscle strains from poor posture, or sudden movements.

Chronic Neck Pain

People with chronic neck pain experience tight muscles and pain for more than 3 months. This kind of neck and upper back pain can be caused by degenerative conditions, like osteoarthritis or chronic muscle tension. This deep neck pain frequently needs a more comprehensive neck pain treatment approach.

What Causes Neck Pain?

Here are the most common causes of neck pain:

Muscle Strain and Tension: This is quite a common cause of pain in the neck. If you have poor posture for too long, such as hunching over your desk or looking down at your phone too much, it can cause muscle strain in the muscles around your neck and upper back muscles. It can even result in shoulder pain!
Injuries: If you get physical trauma from an accident, like whiplash, it can cause sudden and severe neck pain. This is because there is damage to the soft tissue or ligament.
Degenerative Conditions: Conditions like cervical spondylosis (age-related wear and tear), vertebra damage, and herniated discs can compress the nerves in your neck, leading to nerve pain that radiates into your arms. It can also result in lower back pain.

What are the Symptoms of Neck Pain?

There are a few common symptoms of neck pain, such as dull aches, sharp pain, or a stiff neck with tightness. You may also experience mechanical neck pain in the form of a reduced range of motion or headaches.

A headache can cause referred pain that starts in the neck area and can move to your shoulders or arms. In some cases, if you have some kind of nerve damage, you might feel a pins and needles sensation or weakness in your arms.

The Role of Physiotherapy for Neck Pain

Physiotherapy management of neck pain begins with a thorough assessment, where your physiotherapist will assess your condition and diagnose your neck pain. This can involve physical examinations and imaging studies to decide on effective treatment for neck pain. You can expect physio for neck pain sessions to range from $90 to $130 per session, though your insurance might cover this!

Treating neck pain with a physio team usually involves neck strengthening exercises, massage, manual therapy like joint mobilisation and dry needling, and soft tissue manipulation. These treatments can alleviate neck pain and improve the mobility in your cervical spine.

The treatment of neck pain also includes a personalised exercise program for session exercises as well as at-home exercises. For example, in many cases of neck pain, a physio will teach you neck stretches for postural purposes and isometric exercises to strengthen the muscles within the neck without movement. This will help reduce pain, too.

Issues with your neck are painful, so a physio will often use a holistic approach. In passive physical therapy, we might use heat application, ice therapy, ultrasound treatment, or electrical stimulation. In active physio, we will engage you in exercises if you’re experiencing pain across your neck muscle. This will also help you prevent future episodes.

When Should I See a Physiotherapist for Neck Pain?

You should see a physio for neck and shoulder pain if your neck pain persists and does not improve with over-the-counter medication. It’s also important to see a physio if you’re recovering from a surgery affecting your neck. If you have general neck pain from sleeping in an awkward position, you probably don’t need physio!

Neck pain can range and be caused by a variety of issues. If you develop neck pain from certain conditions like spinal instability, fractures, infections impacting the spine, or any neurological symptoms like loss of bladder control or paralysis, you should see a physio.

If you’re looking for long-term pain relief from strain in your neck and shoulder muscles, you should book an appointment!

Align HC: Easily Reduce Neck Pain

Physiotherapy is a really helpful tool for managing neck pain. With custom treatment plans, you can get help for urgent pain therapy as well as a plan for long-term recovery.

With a combination of manual therapy, exercise programs, patient education, and lifestyle changes, a physio can improve your condition and quality of life. Get in touch with Align HC when you’re ready to get rid of that persistent neck pain!

FAQs on Physio for Neck Pain | Does Physio Help Neck Pain?

Is a physio or chiropractor better for neck pain?

Neck pain is better treated by a physio. This is because while chiros can give you immediate pain relief, a physio can give you a long-term recovery plan to address the cause of the issue and prevent it from happening again.

How many physio sessions for neck pain?

You will need between 1 and 12 physio sessions for neck pain, depending on how severe your condition is. For more chronic conditions, you might need more sessions.

Which exercise is best for neck pain?

A side-to-side tilt is a great exercise for neck pain. This involves turning your head and holding it on each side. To enhance the stretch, you can use your hand to gently pull your head towards your shoulder. Performing this exercise regularly helps improve neck flexibility and alleviate muscle tension.