Neck pain treatment in Newbury: Can Chiropractic help? Neck pain is the 3rd leading cause for pain and disability in the UK1. Neck pain is also one of the most common reasons people seek help at our clinic in Newbury. What causes neck pain? How can it be treated? And what can be done to help avoid neck pain in the future? These are the topics of this blog post.
Whether it arrives suddenly after waking up in the morning, develops gradually from desk work, or follows an injury, neck pain can significantly affect your quality of life. If you haven’t read it, we have covered “I went to bed, now I can’t turn my head” in a previous blog post. In this current blog post, we will discussing the common causes of neck pain.
“Why does my neck hurt when I haven’t done anything?”
The answer is that neck pain is rarely caused by one single event and often the result of multiple factors2. More often, it develops from a combination of factors that build up over time. Understanding the most common causes can help you make sense of your symptoms and, more importantly, understand what can be done to help.
How Common Is Neck Pain?
Neck pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions worldwide1,2. Research suggests that neck pain affects millions of people each year and represents a significant cause of disability and lost productivity2.
The encouraging news is that the majority of neck pain cases are mechanical in nature, meaning they are related to muscles, joints, ligaments, posture, and movement rather than serious disease. What is referred to as “faulty movement patterns” is where there has been an injury to the joints of the spine or arthritic changes that lead to abnormal or altered movements. These movements patterns can be addressed with a combination of spinal manipulation and rehabilitation exercises3–5.
Poor Posture and Sedentary Lifestyle
We have discussed in a previous blog post the role of “Posture and Health and Disease”, where we discussed in detail the impact prolonged poor posture can have on the spine. Modern lifestyles place tremendous demands on our necks, and probably the most common cause of neck pain is simple muscular strain.
This can occur from:
- Prolonged sitting at a workstation, desk or driving.
- Looking down at phones or tablets for too long each day.
- Poor sleeping positions.
- Stress and tension.
- Repetitive activities.
When muscles remain under constant load, they can become irritated and painful. Despite feeling alarming, acute muscular neck pain is extremely common and usually responds well to conservative care including chiropractic and gradual movement.
Research has identified prolonged sitting and psychosocial stress as important contributors to neck pain1. It is worth remembering that posture itself is not “good” or “bad.” The human body and spine have evolved to move. Problems often arise when we stay in one position for too long rather than from any particular posture alone.
This is why regular movement breaks, exercise, and strengthening are often more important than trying to sit perfectly. Workstation assessments, using ergonomic desk equipment, and sit-stand desks can all help reduce the occurrence of pain.
Joint Stiffness and Mechanical Dysfunction
The neck contains seven vertebrae, numerous joints, muscles, and ligaments that must all work together.
Sometimes these joints become stiff or irritated, leading to:
- Local neck pain.
- Reduced movement.
- Pain between the shoulder blades.
- Headaches arising from the neck (cervicogenic headaches).
Mechanical neck pain is one of the conditions commonly managed with a combination of:
- Exercise rehabilitation.
- Manual therapy.
- Soft tissue techniques.
- Lifestyle advice.
Current clinical guidelines recommend non-pharmacological approaches such as exercise and manual therapy as first-line treatments for many forms of neck pain2.
Age-Related Changes
Many people worry that arthritis or “wear and tear” seen on scans must be the cause of their pain.
Interestingly, research has shown that age-related changes on X-rays and MRI scans are extremely common—even in people without pain6.
Terms such as:
- Cervical spondylosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
- Wear and tear.
can sound frightening, but they are often normal age-related findings rather than indicators of damage or injury. In many cases, people with significant changes on imaging have no symptoms whatsoever. The natural path of spinal arthritis has been demonstrated by Ferrara (2012) to lead to more symptomatic and significant changes if management is not sought in some cases7. Spinal manipulation does not reverse or prevent arthritis, but it can be effective in the management of mechanical neck pain from arthritic changes, along with exercise and physical therapy management. Spinal imaging findings should always be interpreted alongside a thorough history and physical examination and can de used to influence treatment/management options8.
Stress and Emotional Factors
Neck pain is not purely physical.
Research has demonstrated that stress, anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and reduced social support can all influence both the development and persistence of neck pain1. This does not mean the pain is “all in your head.” Pain is real. However, modern pain science shows us that physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors all interact with one another.
This is one reason why exercise, sleep quality, stress management, and overall health are important parts of recovery. This is how we at Spriggs Chiropractic and Nutrition help to support and manage your neck pain, using a multidisciplinary approach to your care as recommended by the Royal College of Chiropractors9.
Whiplash and Injury
We have covered “Whiplash” in a previous blog post, so I won’t recover this topic in detail in this blog post. However, previous car crashes, road traffic accidents, falls, and sporting injuries can all produce neck pain.
Whiplash-associated disorders occur when the neck experiences rapid acceleration and deceleration forces. Symptoms may include:
- Neck stiffness.
- Muscle spasm.
- Headaches.
- Shoulder pain.
- Reduced movement.
Most people recover well with appropriate advice and rehabilitation, although some individuals may experience persistent symptoms. Additional treatment interventions may be needed in these cases. Call us now on 01635 43238 to make an appointment to discuss your ongoing neck pain.
Trapped Nerves
A lot of patients coming to clinic describe their pain as or think they have “trapped a nerve” because of the severity of their symptoms. Acute neck pain and muscle spasm can be incredibly painful and can mean that you can’t turn your head or even lie down comfortably. In my clinical experience, most people haven’t actually trapped or pinched a nerve in their neck, and they base their suspicion of a nerve issue from the severity of their symptoms.
I am not belittling their experience or their pain when I say this, but the symptoms of an actually trapped or pinched nerve include:
- Tingling.
- Pins and needles.
- Numbness.
- Weakness.
- Pain radiating below the shoulder.
This condition, known as cervical radiculopathy, may require further assessment (such as an x-ray or MRI) to determine the underlying cause. In the absence of these additional symptoms, it is much more likely that your pain is being caused by mechanical issues caused by joint, ligamentous or muscular injuries.
When Should You Seek Medical Advice?
Although most neck pain is not serious, certain symptoms should always be assessed promptly.
These include:
- Significant trauma.
- Progressive arm weakness.
- Loss of coordination.
- Changes in bowel or bladder function.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Fever or night sweats.
- Severe pain that is worsening rapidly.
Fortunately, these causes are uncommon, but they should never be ignored.
Neck Pain Treatment in Newbury
At Spriggs Chiropractic, we aim to understand why your symptoms have developed rather than simply chasing pain. We than construct a plan of management to help resolve your symptoms and your individual needs.
Treatment may include:
- Thorough examination and diagnosis, which might include x-rays or other imaging depending on your clinical needs.
- Exercise rehabilitation.
- Soft tissue therapy.
- Chiropractic care where appropriate.
- Strength and movement advice.
- Education to help you understand your condition.
Our goal is not only to help reduce pain but also to improve confidence, function, and resilience so you can return to doing the things you enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Neck pain can be frustrating, worrying, and sometimes surprisingly limiting. Fortunately, most cases respond well to conservative treatment and active rehabilitation.
Understanding the common causes of neck pain is often the first step toward recovery.
If you are experiencing persistent neck pain and would like professional advice, our team at Spriggs Chiropractic in Newbury is here to help, call us on 01635 43238 or book online through our website.
By Mark Spriggs DC, MChiro, MSc, PGCert, FRCC
References
- Price J, Rushton A, Tyros V, Heneghan NR. Expert consensus on the important chronic non-specific neck pain motor control and segmental exercise and dosage variables: An international e-Delphi study. PLoS One. 2021;16(7 July):1-20. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253523
- Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi SA, Amiri P, et al. Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):1-13. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
- Harrison DE, Harrison DD, Haas JW. CBP Structural Rehabilitation of the Cervical Spine. 1st ed. Harrison Chiropractic Biophysics Seminars Inc; 2002.
- Bogduk N, Yoganandan N. Biomechanics of the cervical spine Part 3: Minor injuries. Clin Biomech. 2001;16(4):267-275. doi:10.1016/S0268-0033(01)00003-1
- Barnsley L, Lord S, Wallis B, Bogduk N. The Prevelence of Chronic Cervical Zygapophysial Joint Pain After Whiplash. 1Spine. 1995;20(1):20-26.
- Brinjikji W, Luetmer PH, Comstock B, et al. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. Am J Neuroradiol. 2015;36(4):811-816. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A4173
- Ferrara LA. The Biomechanics of Cervical Spondylosis. Adv Orthop. 2012;2012:1-5. doi:10.1155/2012/493605
- Spriggs M, Foulkes D. How Frequently Do Lateral Cervical Spine Radiographs Alter Treatment Options In Chiropractic Practice? J Contemp Chiropr. 2022;5(28):57-75.
- Chiropractors RC of. Acute neck pain. R Coll Chiropactors. Published online 2017:178-181. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-46215-0.00029-X