Physiotherapy has relieved many patients suffering from neck pain, especially in this age, with most people suffering from it due to long work hours or due to injuries of the neck.
The neck muscles are always at work as they hold the weight of the head weight and movements. The neck becomes a prime stress point for people working for long hours, leading to neck pain.
At Pragati Physiotherapy Clinic, we offer suitable physiotherapy treatment to relieve the patients suffering from neck pain. We provide advanced physiotherapy techniques and exercise programs that cure neck pain.
Current studies reveal that almost two-thirds of the population will have neck pain at some point in their lives. Similarly, physiotherapy has become a standard treatment for chronic neck pain.
In physiotherapy, we begin with a treatment to reduce pain and stiffness, followed by an exercise program to strengthen and stretch the neck.
What are the Physiotherapy Treatment Methods for Neck Pain?
The physiotherapists at Pragati Physiotherapy Centre resolve the neck pain through two channels viz.
1. Passive Physiotherapy:
Passive physiotherapy includes numerous methods such as ice packs, massage therapy, heat therapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound, etc. The primary purpose of this therapy is to reduce the swelling and pain of the neck. Here, the patient has to receive the treatment; hence it is referred to as passive physiotherapy.
2. Active Physiotherapy:
Active physiotherapy treatment includes neck exercises, movements, and stretches. The neck muscles become less painful by improving flexibility and strength through these exercises. The patient will also be able to maintain and improve body posture.
A good posture reduces stress on the cervical spine. All of this consequently minimizes the spine and neck pain. In the treatment of neck pain through physiotherapy, the initial phase involves more passive therapies followed by more active therapies as the patient's condition improves.
How do we decide what exercises are the best for the patient?
Customized Exercise Program
An individual's movement, physical capabilities, body type, and activity levels are considered while prescribing a physiotherapy treatment plan. Our well-trained physiotherapists will develop a customized exercise program based on their diagnosis of your condition, capacity, and tolerance level.
Specific exercises, amount of practice, and the exercise schedule will vary depending on an individual's condition and needs.
The task of developing the right exercise schedule relies on the patient's intent to recover and the physical condition of the patient. The physiotherapist monitors the patient's progress and responses to the treatment and makes further adjustments in the exercise schedule for the best results.
Proper Exercise Technique:
The proper exercise technique allows the patient to focus on the desired muscle/muscle group, increasing its effectiveness. Our physiotherapists will instruct the patient on the correct method of performing each exercise made for your exercise program.
Our physiotherapists strive to adapt and improve the exercise techniques that suit the patient's needs for effective treatment and spine protection.
Is Physiotherapy Effective on neck pain?
Yes, Physiotherapy reduces neck pain. You will find ample research and study literature on the same. There have medical studies conducted on how physiotherapy reduces neck pain and improves the posture of the patients. Also, physiotherapy, when combined with other treatments, gives better results.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the causes of neck pain?
Basic causes of neck pain are:
- Stress
- Prolonged postures: e.g., using a computer or falling asleep in an awkward position, holding a child
- Muscular strains, overuse, or de-conditioning
- Accidents
- Whiplash
- Pinched nerves
- intervertebral discs Injuries
- Degeneration, Wry Neck
- Muscle, Bone, Nervous, Or Circulatory Structure Of The Neck abnormalities
2. What are the Symptoms of neck pain?
Some of the most common symptoms of neck pain include:
- Pain spreading into the shoulder, arm, hand, or in between the shoulder blades
- Numbness or tingling in the arm and hand
- Decreased range of motion in the neck and shoulders
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Loss of coordination
- Dizziness
3. When is Physiotherapy for neck pain recommended?
- Unspecified chronic pain: The cause of the neck pain is left undiagnosed while the patient complains of lingering and recurring neck pain. By proceeding with neck physiotherapy, the patient can seek relief and strengthen the neck muscles for making them pain-resistant.
- Sometimes, neck pain lingers and keeps recurring. The source or mechanism of pain can be challenging to identify. Even without a diagnosis, increasing the neck's muscle strength may help them better support the cervical spine and become more resistant to pain.
- Injuries such as whiplash cause damage to the neck's soft tissues and joints, making them stiff and painful. With neck physiotherapy, the pain and stiffness in the neck reduce gradually and enables normal functioning.
After a spine/neck surgery: Physiotherapy helps treat stiffness, strengthen neck function, and reduce painful spasms that the patient could experience after certain spine surgeries. For instance, ACDF surgery involves altering some neck and upper back muscles and effects its movements
4. When to avoid physiotherapy for neck pain?
Here are some medical conditions where physiotherapy may not only be ineffective but might also prove harmful:
- Spinal instability: In some cases, the cervical spine is not stable enough for exercise. E.g., vertebral bone is fractured, or spinal degeneration causes compression of the spinal cord or a nerve root. Only after the spine stabilizes physiotherapy is advised to improve the condition of the patient.
- Underlying medical issues: If the neck pain is due to an infection, tumour, cancer, then it needs to be treated first. It may so happen that physiotherapy can make the patient feel worse or increase the neck pain and discomfort.
- Patient's tolerance: If the patient cannot tolerate the treatment as desired, our physiotherapist will deny or stop your treatment.
