The last thing you probably wanna do when you’re hurt somewhere is moving it even more. No wonder this is one of the reasons behind employees missed work since this kind of pain can be really debilitating. Aside from that this is the reason why most people suffering from neck pain prefer to just take pain medication too because it takes away the pain without having to do anything.
However, what you may not realize is that all pain medications do is numbs the pain for a while and nothing more. It doesn’t treat the cause of your pain nor keep the discomfort permanently. Aside from the fact that long-term use of medications can pose different kinds of side effects that can be dangerous for your health.
If you want to address your neck pain properly, you have a better chance at getting better if you seek chiropractic care and do targeted exercises for your neck pain. Would you still reach for the bottle of pills if you know what a chiropractor and some exercises can do for you?
THE BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR NECK PAIN
Loosen Up The Joints Of The Cervical Vertebrae In The Neck
Sometimes, you are experiencing neck pain because the joints in your neck are stiff. This often happens due to tissue damage or scarring from trauma like whiplash or repetitive stress such as having poor posture. Both of these causes pain in your neck, but with the help of chiropractic adjustments your neck’s natural movement can be restored which can relieve the pain.
Reduce Pain Caused By Pinched Nerves And Muscle Spasms
When a nerve or set of nerves in the body are stretched, constricted, or compressed you can experience symptoms like ‘pins and needles’ feeling or burning sensation around the area. Though rest does the trick sometimes, chiropractic care provides a more in-depth solution for the pain that keeps coming back. For pinched nerves and muscle spasms, chiropractors may use variety of treatment like manual manipulation, physiotherapy, and flexion distraction to reduce inflammation and take pressure off the spine.
Can Correct Misalignment
When you have neck subluxation, it becomes difficult to move your neck, your neck doesn’t receive an adequate amount of blood supply, and don’t transmit appropriate nerve information. No wonder you are in pain! Whether it’s due to a recent trauma, poor posture, or health condition like arthritis, spinal adjustments can help correct misalignments in order to eliminate pain.
Five Specific Exercises To Target Chronic Neck Pain
Aside from chiropractic care, doing exercises can also help treat your neck pain because it often leads to improved posture, range of motion and functionality of your body. Here is the five specific strength exercises target the neck and shoulder muscles involved in causing chronic neck pain.
Dumbbell Shrug
· Pick a dumbbell anywhere between 6-12 Lbs. depending on your current muscle strength.
· Begin with standing upright with the hand weights at the side of your body.
· Lift your shoulders up towards your ears using one even motion then lower them again slowly
· Relax your jaw and neck while doing it
· Do 2 sets with 8-12 repetition
One-Arm Row
· Pick a dumbbell anywhere between 6-12 Lbs. depending on your current muscle strength.
· Stand with one knee on the bench and lean on the same-side hand on the front of the bench
· With the free arm you pull the weight up towards your lower chest.
· When the weight touches your chest, lower it in a controlled motion.
· Do 2 sets with 8-12 repetition
Upright Row
· Pick a dumbbell anywhere between 6-12 Lbs. depending on your current muscle strength.
· Stand upright with your arms stretched and the hand weights in front of your body.
· Lift the weights in a straight line as close to your body as possible until they reach the middle of your chest and your elbows point up and out.
· During the whole exercise, the hand weights should be placed lower than the elbows.
· Do 2 sets with 8-12 repetition
Reverse Fly
· Pick a dumbbell anywhere between 6-12 Lbs. depending on your current muscle strength.
· Lie down on a bench in a 45° forward bent angle with the hand weights hanging towards the floor.
· Lift the weights outward and upward until they are horizontal, and then lower the weights in one controlled motion.
· During the exercise, the elbows should be slightly bent.
· Do 2 sets with 8-12 repetition
Lateral Raise / Shoulder Abduction
· Stand upright with the hand weights at the side of your body.
· Lift the weights outward and upward until they are horizontal, and then lower the weights in one controlled motion.
· During the exercise, the elbows should be slightly bent
· Do 2 sets with 8-12 repetition
Instead of heavily relying on pain medications, which we all know long-term use has negative effects, try doing these exercises. You’ll be surprised at how much it can make a difference with your neck pain. But before anything else, you have to consult a chiropractor to make sure you’re not doing exercises that may make your condition worse.