Your cervical spine, or your neck, is constantly under pressure and tension. Poor postural habits, sitting for long periods of time hunched over your desk, an improper pillow, injuries and stress can cause neck pain, strain or pinched nerves. According to Drs. Zacharia Isaac and Katherine Dec in an article for UpToDate, almost 10% of adults suffer from neck pain at any given moment. Physical therapy is a beneficial way to treat and prevent neck pain by focusing on the ligaments, joints and muscles that support your neck.
Patient Education
One of the major goals of physical therapy for your cervical spine is patient education, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A physical therapist will discuss your specific condition and determine the causes of your symptoms. Education about proper postural alignment and ergonomic principles -- the factors that can contribute to your pain -- can help you prevent neck pain and maintain a healthy cervical spine. Your therapist will also inform you about stretching and strengthening techniques that can help reduce your pain.
Passive Modalities
Passive physical therapy modalities such as massage, ice, heat and ultrasound are often used in a physical therapy treatment session to reduce pain. TENS stimulation -- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators that send electrical pulses across the surface of the skin and along the nerve strands to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain, may also be used for treating neck pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders and instances of mild neck pain. This is according to a 2010 study by researchers Mikhled Maayah and Mohammed Al-Jarrah, published in the "Journal of Clinical Medical Research."
Stretching
Physical therapy for the cervical spine may involve manual stretching techniques and patient instruction on how to perform these techniques at home. According to Drs. Isaac and Dec, stretches for neck pain improve range of motion and flexibility. Beneficial techniques that may be taught include neck bending, shoulder rolls, neck rotation and tilting and back stretches.
Strengthening
Your physical therapist may implement the use of resistance bands or exercise machines to strengthen the muscles that support your spine, with the goal of improving your postural alignment. Re-education on how to properly use your postural muscles and instruction on techniques to strengthen your neck muscles are another important component of physical therapy strengthening exercises for your cervical spine.
Stress Relief
For many people, neck pain is caused by an overload of stress and tension. To alleviate these symptoms, your therapist may suggest a variety of relaxation and stress relief exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mind-body techniques, such as yoga or meditation.
References
- "UpToDate"; Neck Pain; Zacharia Isaac, MD and Katherine Dec, MD; August 19, 2010
- "Journal of Clinical Medical Research"; Evaluation of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment of Neck Pain due to Musculoskeletal Disorders; Mikhled Maayaha and Mohammed Al-Jarrah; June 2010
- Cleveland Clinic: What Can Physical Therapy Do For Your Back and Neck Pain
