Chronic neck pain treatment — four benefits of physical therapy

Everyone has to deal with minor neck pain from time to time. Whether it’s a crick in the neck after sleeping in a funny position or a little stiffness from a tough workout, it usually passes in a relatively short period of time. However, chronic neck pain is defined as persistent pain that lasts months or longer or recurs frequently, and if you’re dealing with it, you know about the devastating impact it can have on your quality of life. 

There are numerous chronic neck pain treatment options, from at-home therapies all the way to surgery. For nearly any case of neck pain, physical therapy is a form of treatment that can have substantial benefits for patients looking to find relief and get back to normal functioning. 

To help clarify these important benefits, our team has created the following helpful guide. If you have any questions or just want to learn more about how we can help, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

How physical therapy works as chronic neck pain treatment

Physical therapists take a natural approach to pain relief. By identifying the sources of pain and addressing the structural and mechanical contributors, a comprehensive therapy program can achieve the following benefits: 

1. Improved mobility — With active and passive stretches, movement training and soft tissue mobilization, and joint mobilization, physical therapy can help reduce painful movements and increase range of motion. 
2. A stronger neck — Our neck muscles play a key role in supporting the upper spine and head. Therapeutic strengthening exercises can improve posture and more evenly distribute pressure throughout the neck.
3. Decreased muscle tension — By using manual therapy, your physical therapist can relax tense muscles and soft tissue, which are common sources of neck pain. 
4. Relief from nerve compression — Neck pain is often related to a pinched nerve in the upper spine. By working on posture and mechanics, physical therapy can help elongate the spine and reduce pressure on nerve tissue. 

To develop the right treatment plan for each unique case of chronic neck pain, therapists will first perform a thorough assessment to properly identify the sources of symptoms and the specific treatments with the best chance of offering relief. 

Suffering from chronic neck pain? Reach out to Back in Motion today

Start your journey to relief with us today. Contact our team to schedule your initial appointment with one of our expert clinicians. We have decades of combined experience and have helped many people overcome chronic pain and get back to a healthy and active lifestyle.