chiropractic naturally

How Appropriate Posture Can Help Neck Pain and Headaches

If we wake up in the morning with a stiff and painful neck, the tendency is to blame the condition on our pillow, bed, or sleep position during that night. We also attempt to figure out what is taking place when sudden neck movement causes a sharp pain that feels as if “something” has slipped out of position or that a nerve is being “pinched.” Though it may seem so, one isolated occurrence is hardly ever the cause of most neck problems, but more often than not the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, bad work and lifestyle habits, and lack of healthy exercise for strength and flexibility. Naturally, some neck challenges are due to traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury.

In order to understand neck pain, it is important to have knowledge of the anatomy of the spine. The movement of the spine is piloted by neck vertebrae that are composed of posterior joints, called facets, that attach vertebrae to one another. The inter-vertebral discs connect the bodies of the vertebrae and are made of a form of tough cartilage that surrounds a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. In a canal positioned between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. Spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae and supply energy to muscles and organs of the body. They also carry sensory impulses, including pain information, from the body to the brain.  The nerves that exit from the neck are responsible for the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The natural forward curve of the neck balances the weight of the head and alleviates stress on neck vertebrae. For more information please feel free to visit your  Chiropractor.

Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use

More and more people are now making their living sitting at a desk in front of a computer. The use of computers has risen significantly, and many individuals spend eight to ten hours a day slumped over the keyboard and staring at the monitor. Sitting with the head in a forward bent position (the posture most computer users assume), puts immense strain on neck ligaments and muscles. In addition, the normal forward curve of the neck becomes reversed creating more stress upon all the surrounding tissues of the neck. All of this can lead to spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the principal causes of spinal nerve inflammation. Besides general pain, spinal nerve inflammation in the neck can cause symptoms such as headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

Headaches or migraines are usually associated with dysfunction of the cervical spine. Symptoms, from a dull ache to throbbing pain, are caused when the cervical vertebrae lose their normal position or motion and sensitive nerves and blood vessels, associated with structures in the head are stretched or irritated. In many cases the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, called trigger points, can also refer pain to the head.  Of course there are other factors associated with headaches including toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. But, the alignment of the neck and the irritation of surrounding tissues should be a main consideration when treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractic care has been shown to exceptionally beneficial in the treatment of headaches. Your  Chiropractor can give you further information regarding treatment and pain relief.

Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Unfortunately, many people are involved in car accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common. During such a collision, the head of the passenger in the front car is forcefully jolted back, and then forward, causing harm to the structure of both the front and back of the neck. This sort of injury is often called a whiplash. Even at low speeds, the amount of force generated by such an accident is very powerful and can cause damage to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Whiplash injury includes neck pain and immobility, and other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and should pain, tingling in the hands and fingers, and weakness of the arms and hand. Immediate evaluation and x-rays are crucial in order to rule out a fracture. However in most cases, the injuries are mainly to the soft tissues and joints. Proper care is essential in recovery from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your  Chiropractor is has years of experience in treating whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from beginning to end.

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