Prevent Neck Pain with Aloha Chiropractor

It's normal for us to lose some range of motion in our necks as we age due to spinal degeneration, but this limited mobility may lead to neck pain in some patients.

Here's a quick test to check your neck mobility:

• Flexion: Bend your chin forward to your chest (40-60 degrees).
• Extension: Tilt your head back to look at the ceiling (60-80 degrees).
• Rotation: Turn your head left to right. Your chin should be roughly in line with your shoulders (60-80 degrees).
• Lateral Bending: Bend your head so your right ear touches your right shoulder, and vice versa (about 45 degree angle, or halfway).

Did you pass the test? If any of these movements were painful or stiff, it's likely a sign of muscle tension or poor flexibility. If you have an inflexible neck accompanied by pain or headache, you could be suffering from a spinal condition such as cervical disc herniation, spinal degeneration, arthritis, or whiplash. Fortunately, our Aloha chiropractors and physical therapists can work with you to restore flexibility and range of motion in your neck.

Chiropractic adjustments, like what we offer our Aloha/Beaverton patients, have been shown to improve neck mobility in patients with and without neck-pain symptoms.

Improved mobility can slow spinal degeneration and decrease any painful symptoms you may be experiencing. To prevent and relieve neck pain, call our office in Aloha, OR today.

References

Bronfort, Gert, Roni Evans, Alfred Anderson, Kenneth Svendsen, Yiscah Bracha, and Richard Grimm. Spinal Manipulation, medication, or home exercise with advice for acute and subacute neck pain: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine  2012; 156 (1): 1-10.

Passmore S, Burke J, Good C, Lyons J, Dunn A. Spinal Manipulation Impacts Cervical Spine Movement and Fitts' Task Performance: A Single-Blind Randomized Before-After Trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. March 2010: Vol. 33, Issue 3, Pages 189-192.