Long days at a desk, hours on the phone and stress all land on the neck. Most neck pain is mechanical, which means it comes from muscles, joints and discs rather than a serious disease, and it usually responds well to the right mix of care.
Common causes
- Muscle strain from desk work, phone use or sleeping awkwardly
- Stiff or irritated facet joints in the neck
- A disc or bone spur pressing on a nerve, which can send pain, tingling or numbness into the arm
- Whiplash after a car accident
- Headaches that start in the neck, often felt at the back of the head
Warning signs: see a doctor straight away
- Neck pain after a major fall or accident
- Fever with a stiff neck
- Weakness in the arms or legs, clumsy hands, or trouble with balance or walking
- A sudden, severe headache unlike any before
- Dizziness, double vision, slurred speech or trouble swallowing
What research says about non-surgical care
- In a randomised trial of recent neck pain, people who had spinal manipulation, or home exercise with advice, did better than those who took medication alone (Bronfort, Annals of Internal Medicine 2012).
- Chiropractic guidelines based on 41 studies recommend manipulation or mobilisation together with exercise and advice for adults with neck pain (Bryans, JMPT 2014).
- A Cochrane review found specific neck and shoulder exercises can help reduce neck pain (Gross, Cochrane 2015).
- Guidelines also support chiropractic care for headaches that start in the neck (Bryans, JMPT 2011).
How BP Chiro helps with neck pain
- A full assessment first, including checks for the warning signs above before any neck adjustment
- Chiropractic adjustment, or gentler mobilisation and Activator therapy where they suit you better
- Physiotherapy exercises for the deep neck and upper back muscles
- Soft tissue therapy, dry needling and modalities depending on your assessment
- Simple changes to your desk, screen height and pillow
Small habits that help
- Raise your screen so the top is around eye level.
- Hold your phone higher instead of looking down for long periods.
- Get up and move your neck and shoulders gently every so often.
Related reading:
- Are medications the only way to reduce headaches?
- Chiro and physio together for lower back and neck pain
- Lower back pain: causes, warning signs and non-surgical care
Neck pain care in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang
Every first visit at BP Chiro starts with a full spinal assessment. Choose the clinic nearest you:
- Chiropractor in Johor Bahru (Uda Utama and Johor Jaya)
- Seri Kembangan, for south Kuala Lumpur, Puchong and Putrajaya
- Kepong, for north Kuala Lumpur
- Kluang
- Penang
References
- Bronfort G, Evans R, Anderson AV, Svendsen KH, Bracha Y, Grimm RH. Spinal manipulation, medication, or home exercise with advice for acute and subacute neck pain: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156(1 Pt 1):1-10.
- Bryans R, Decina P, Descarreaux M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014;37(1):42-63.
- Gross A, Kay TM, Paquin JP, et al. Exercises for mechanical neck disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD004250.
- Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011;34(5):274-289.