End Neck pain now: 5 Causes You Need to Know and Physiotherapy Treatments that works! - Fighting Fit Physiotherapy Nerang Gold Coast

Understanding and Treating Neck Pain

If you are sitting there reading this with a sore neck, then read all the way to the end!

I will show you 5 common causes of neck pain, how I diagnose them and what treatment options are available to you and your neck pain.

You have probably been scrolling the internet for ages, looking for answers to your neck pain. In 3 mins, you will be able to stop scrolling for answers and know what to do!

Neck pain is a prevalent condition that affects many Australians and is one of the top reasons why a person seeks out treatment from a physiotherapist over any other service (chiro, osteo and massage!).

That is because physios are best suited to treat the range of neck pain presentations from mild discomfort all the way to debilitating neck pain that affects daily activities such as driving, exercise, sport, working at a desk, or even sleeping.

As a physio, I know early treatment and intervention can prevent acute neck pain from developing into a chronic issue.

So don’t sit and wait, do something quickly!

Read all of this!

The 5 most Common Causes of Neck Pain

Postural Strain

Poor posture can be one of the biggest contributors of neck pain. Our modern lifestyle, with prolonged device use and less activity leads to a forward head posture. This position can place excessive stress and strain on the cervical spine and the muscles supporting the neck. Over time, this posture lengthens and weakens muscles and can lead to the initial instance of neck pain and stiffness.

Muscle Strain or Sprain

A sudden movement, activity or sport, even then overuse of neck muscles can lead to strain or sprain. This involves overstretching of the soft tissues in the neck such as muscles, joint capsules and ligaments. This can happen from poor lifting technique, moving into awkward positions, a fall, sport like wrestling or even activities like looking up for extended periods (e.g., painting a ceiling).

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

With aging (as we all do) the cervical vertebrae and its tissues will degenerate. This degeneration can lead to neck pain and stiffness, particularly in the morning. While some experience no symptoms with degeneration at all, other people will become gradually more stiff and sore leading to increased pain and dysfunction with time.

Cervical Radiculopathy

Also known as a “pinched nerve,” this occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated by surrounding structures, such as a herniated disc or ‘bone spurs’ which is often a result of degenerative change. Cervical radiculopathy often presents as neck pain accompanied by a different pain (hot burning, shooting and electric) and with numbness, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, arm/s, or hands. This is one to take immediate action on, don’t sit and wait this one out!

Whiplash and Trauma

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a rapid movement of the head, typically due to car accidents or sporting injuries. This sudden movement can cause trauma to any of the neck structures, leading to acute pain and stiffness and a flow on effect of chronic stiffness and function change. Symptoms of whiplash can include neck pain, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. Whip lash often unknowingly happens after a concussion too!

How Physiotherapists Diagnose Neck Pain

Physiotherapists use a comprehensive approach to diagnose the root cause of neck pain, involving detailed assessments and clinical reasoning. Here’s a breakdown of the diagnostic process:

Detailed History and Assessment

We begin with an in-depth conversation about your symptoms. Including:

Pain Onset and Duration: When did the pain start, and how long has it been present?
Pain Characteristics: Is the pain sharp, dull, or radiating? Is it localized or spreading to the arms or shoulders? or is it hot, burning and electric?
Triggers and Relievers: What activities or movements make the pain worse, and what seems to alleviate it?
Daily Activities: The patient’s job, hobbies, and lifestyle are assessed to identify postural habits that may contribute to neck pain.
Goals: what do you want to achieve out improving your neck?

Physical Examination

We then perform a hands-on examination to assess:

Range of Motion (ROM): Checking how well the neck moves in all directions.
Palpation: Feeling the neck and surrounding tissues to identify areas of pain, structures affected, tenderness, tightness, or even muscle spasms.
Neurological Exam: Assessing reflexes, muscle strength, and sensory function to check for nerve involvement can be needed if radicular pain is present or symptoms present in the upper limb (aka arm!).
Strength: testing determining if the neck is strong enough for the daily demands placed on it
Function: determine both the physical and even psychological function of a person!

Physiotherapy Treatment Neck Pain:

You have probably come across many treatment options on the internet. Even tried some of these to limited or nil success. Some fancy, some flashy, some over the top and promoting to be the best thing since the invention of the wheel.

But often simple, effective and progressive treatment strategies over time is all that is needed.

A plan based on the specific cause of the neck pain is the most effective at resolving neck pain. A plan that is designed to reduce pain, restore function, get you back to 120% to prevent recurrence is what is needed.

The 3 most important treatments for neck pain!

Manual Therapy Techniques

Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques that can help reduce neck pain and improve movement. Whether it’s assisted movement of a stiff neck joint, soft tissue work of the muscles of the neck or upper back, there is many tricks and hacks our physio’s have with their hands to get the neck moving quickly and painless once again!

Exercise

Exercise is a cornerstone of physiotherapy for neck pain. You can NOT skip this. If you do, you are setting yourself up to fail!

A targeted, specific and tailor exercise program to your needs that progresses gradually over time helps reduce pain, increase strength, and restore mobility and function of the neck. ONLY 100% of the time!

This may involve two type of exercise.

Stretching Exercises: These exercises focus on lengthening tight muscles in or around the neck, such as the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, cervical extensors, and scalene muscles. Gentle neck stretches can be done several times a day to maintain mobility of the neck, but be aware. Stretching isn’t the only thing to do!

Strengthening Exercises: are where it is at. A strong neck is a resilient neck! Building strength in the deep neck flexors, scapular stabilizers such as lower trapezius and serratus anterior, and all those little postural muscles are important to long-term recovery and effectiveness. Stronger muscles will support the neck for everything you throw at it, including lugging the weight of your head around all day!

Education

Don’t underestimate what we tell you is happening!

A very important part of a patient’s journey toa pain free neck is learning what contributes to their neck symptoms and how to settle the neck down in the event of a flare up.

Education regarding exercise technique, ergonomic posture for work, working positions and lifting or carry techniques, and gym form all can assist in optimising the neck for time spent doing these activities.

The timing of any needed medications, whether heat or cold will work most effectively, the most optimal sleeping position and activity management around working and exercise is a key aspect of managing neck pain.

The bottom line here is each neck presentation is different, knowing what is going on and how to rectify your neck pain is the most important aspect to preventing long term neck pain.

Keeping necks fighting fit is where it is at!

Kyle Wells

Kyle Wells is a Physiotherapist at Fighting Fit Physio.

He has a special interest in arthritis, neck pain and tendinopathy. Just to name a few.

Kyle loves cross fit and has an exceptional eye for technique and performing exercise correctly.

He use exercise to improve patient results and get them moving better for the long term.

Brenda Samosa

05:52 07 Nov 24

I had a really bad shoulder and had been seeing a different physio for 3 months (from a different place) I got told Tyson was good. After just a few sessions the movement was coming back. I’m 66 and was worried I would have to stop surfing. But with a lot of help from Tyson I’m back in the waves ( thank you so so much)

Cyana Ferguson

08:16 30 Oct 24

Steve Harris

22:33 15 Oct 24

Great team, all friendly, super helpful and first class clinical advice and a big shout out to my Physio Noah with my shoulder issue

Andrea Bell

05:33 19 Sep 24

These guys are the best in the biz 🎉

Ryan Brockett

04:20 18 Sep 24

Shout out to Max from fighting fit physio. He helped me out massively straight after shoulder surgery and back into work and sports in no time. Couldn’t recommend anyone better!

Scotty

08:31 31 Jul 24

Five star service from Max & the team!
Professional & very thorough, you know that patient outcomes are of the highest priority.
I highly recommend this business.

Riley Wilson

08:27 14 Jul 24

Be AWARE they’ll immediately try to commit you to multiple follow up sessions after your initial consultation. This happened to me and then I later found out that as it just so happens, they have a cancellation policy that says you have to pay 100% of the consultation fee for cancelling. They failed to tell me this when they were pushy in committing me to 6 sessions after my consult, so that was a really nice little surprise.

I was already uncomfortable with how pushy they were in having me commit to so many sessions, so when I heard about the policy I just cancelled all together. So, I can’t speak further to the quality of their service throughout therapy phase. FYI this was also a few months ago now, it’s possible (though unlikely) they may have changed the policy. Just ask the question.

Megan Shelley

06:51 03 May 24

Fighting Fit Physiotherapy is hands down the best physio I've encountered. Having tried multiple physios for various injuries, I always find myself coming back to them. Their expertise consistently exceeds expectations, helping me get back to my sport faster than I thought possible. Their personalized approach and attention to detail make all the difference. I could not recommend a better or more exceptional physio team!

Gina Matthews

08:41 24 Mar 23

Can't recommend this place high enough. I was in so much pain with my knee an had been for months through advise an exercises I'm now looking forward to returning to gym an back riding my horses in endurance thank you so much

Courtney Halse

01:36 29 Nov 22

Kyle was knowledgeable, personable and professional. He saw me through my second pregnancy and continued to work with me until 6 months post partum on issues with my back. Would recommend anyone to go and see him.

Also shout out to Georgia on the front desk. She makes you feel welcome and brings a sense of warmth to the place!

Alli Davenport

08:07 04 Nov 22

After hip replacement surgery in February I wanted toget back into weight training legs, I started with Mitch 18 weeks ago and after a lot of hard work and sweat I am able to safely train again, I cannot thank Mitch enough for his support,encouragement and knowledge. The staff are friendly and helpful and I always looked forward to my session's

Robert Parkinson

10:50 15 Aug 22

This is the second time I have been treated by the team at FFP.
As a health professional myself I have been impressed with the level of care I have received from all members of the team.
The personalised treatment and rehabilitation programs have produced excellent results and I have completed both programs pain free and feeling stronger than before my injuries.
During the program there was constant communication and follow up and they were very accommodating with my work schedule.
All in all it was a very holistic experience and I would highly recommend the service.

Kiri Canavan

07:30 08 Jun 22

Tyson was amazing! We came up with an 8 week plan at my first consultation with weekly check ins and updates to exercises. 8 weeks later, I am pain free and able to train harder than ever. Highly recommend and the staff are all fantastic and super accomodating!

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