Around 16% to 75% of the population of countries around the globe suffers from neck pain Five Dock. It is more common in places where people perform tasks repeatedly. In the U.S, neck pain ranks in the top 5 disorders with 10-20% of people reporting neck pain symptoms. According to studies, this condition impacts a person’s mental, social as well as physical health. A number of factors may lead to neck pain such as posture and ergonomics. Neck muscles can be strained from bad posture like when you lean over your PC. Osteoarthritis may also lead to neck pain. If you are suffering from neck pain it is important to determine the symptoms and look for appropriate treatment.
Symptoms
Here are some common signs and symptoms of neck pain:
- Headache. Headache is often accompanied by pain in the neck.
- Muscle tightness. You may also experience tightness or spasms in your muscles as a result of neck pain.
- Problems in moving your head. When you experience neck pain it’s difficult to move your neck easily.
- Worsening pain when you hold your head in one place. You may also experience pain when you hold your head in one position for an extended period of time like when you are working on your computer or while driving your car.
- Your local physiotherapy drummoyne will prescribe rest to recover from neck pain and not to move around too much.
Causes of neck pain
It is important to have an idea of the causes of neck pain so that you may prevent it from occurring at the first place.
- Diseases. Certain diseases may lead to conditions like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or meningitis.
- Injuries. Injuries can also lead to neck pain.
- Nerve compression. Another common cause of neck pain is herniated disks or bone spurs in your neck’s vertebrae that can press on the nerves coming out from your spinal cord.
- Muscle strains. When you overwork you may suffer from neck pain, overuse triggers muscle strains.
- Worn joints. Aging is a common cause of muscle pain. Osteoarthritis deteriorates the cartilage between your bones leading to bone spurs that affect the movement of joints and that leads to pain.
When to see a physio
While neck pain can be managed with home treatment in most instances, at time this condition may become more serious in which case you need to see a Five Dock Physio. You need to take your neck pain more seriously if you experience the following symptoms:
- If neck pain results due to an injury like a road accident or fall
- If your neck pain is severe
- If it persists for days without any break
- If neck pain spreads down your legs or arms
- If your neck pain is accompanied by tingling, numbness or headache
Prevention
Since most neck pain symptoms result due to bad posture it is important to ensure right posture. You should keep your head centered over your spine. Making few simple lifestyle changes can help you a long way in preventing neck pain.
- Whether you sit or stand, try to use a good posture. Your shoulders should be in a straight line over your hips and your ears should be directly over the shoulders.
- Sleep in a good posture with your head and neck aligned with your body. Using a small pillow under your neck can help.
- Take frequent breaks while working or travelling.
- Adjust your desk, chair and computer. Make sure the monitor of your laptop or PC is at eye level.
- Do not talk while tucking the phone between your ear and shoulder
- Do not carry heavy bags over your shoulder.
Take good care of yourself, because care is always better, and less expensive, than cure.