Neck Pain Barnhart, MO

Neck Pain Barnhart, MO. It not only causes great discomfort, but also limits and affects the movements and postures that you typically have no problem with. If you are like 75 percent majority, you have experienced neck pain at some point in your life. While a figurative “pain in the neck” is typically not more than a mild annoyance that you can easily disregard, real neck pain is often complicated and serious. It is a pervasive problem that can lead to significant pain and loss of function if not treated promptly and thoroughly. Neck pain, the fourth leading cause of disability, accounts for a significant portion of the 88 billion dollars bill for yearly healthcare costs associated with neck and back pain in the US.

Neck pain should not be ignored. If your neck pain is taking a toll on your life, it is important to get care from an expert as soon as possible. Axes Physical Therapy is the leading Barnhart, MO area provider of physical and occupational therapy and can provide you with the individualized and evidence-based Barnhart, MO neck pain treatment that will reduce your pain and get back to being able to do what you love. To discover what we can do to address your Barnhart, MO neck pain, contact us today.

Causes and Risk Factors of Neck Pain in Barnhart, MO

Neck pain is a common condition that the vast majority of us will experience at least once during our lifetime. We depend upon the intricate and complex structures that make up the cervical spine to protect our vital nervous system, offer support to our head, and give us a unique combination of flexibility range of motion that make many activities and tasks possible. As such a complex region of the body, the neck is vulnerable to pain and impairment due to overuse, injury and trauma, illnesses, and other conditions.

Common Barnhart, MO Neck Pain Causes

• Sprains and strains
• Arthritis
• Direct trauma
• Injuries
• Joint degeneration
• Inflammation
• Infection
• Bulging disc

  

• Pinched nerve
• Surgery

Around 75% of the population experience neck pain at least once during our lifetime. Luckily, many of us only experience mild neck pain that may even subside without the need for major treatment. However, a lot of other Barnhart, MO neck pain patients need tailored care. More than half and as many as 85% of neck pain sufferers will experience at least one more pain episode in a five-year period and in 37% of those with neck pain, the condition becomes chronic, with neck pain that persists beyond one year.

As such a common issue, it is clear that neck pain can affect anyone in Barnhart, MO. However, there are certain risk factors that make an individual more susceptible to neck pain. Risk factors include:

• Occupation – Office workers, healthcare workers, and manual laborers are the occupations most likely to develop neck pain. But, more than the industry or title, the biggest work-related indicator of neck pain is those whose work causes them stress and unhappiness, regardless of the industry or occupation.
• Weight – Because of the added stress on the joints and skeletal system and proportionately less muscle strength, overweight and obese individuals are at a higher risk for neck pain.
• Posture – It’s such a common problem in today’s time that we have a colloquial term for it: “text neck.” Poor posture is to blame for a myriad of neck and spine issues including neck pain. In fact, the strain on the cervical spine almost doubles for every 15 degrees of forward bend in the neck.
• Smoking – Smoking can be blamed for much pain in the neck, back, and other joints due to its ability to can precipitate disc degeneration.
• Stress – We know that stress can wreak havoc on the body in many ways. Stress-related neck pain is not simply being tense. The physiological stress response also enlarges blood vessels in the muscles, restricts neck and shoulder movement, and heightens the perception of pain.

Barnhart, MO Physical Therapy for Neck Pain

Getting quality and timely care and treatment for your neck pain are crucial, especially considering the complexity of the spine and the high rates of neck pain recurrence in Barnhart, MO. Physical therapy is an accepted and popular treatment methods for people experiencing neck pain. This is with good reason, as evidence supports it as a highly effective neck pain treatment strategy. Though in some cases more extensive medical treament beyond physical therapy may be needed, physical therapy is a much safer choice than surgery or medication.

Physical therapy is a powerful treatment approach for Barnhart, MO neck pain that is low-risk and undisruptive. It offers neck pain patients a way to heal as safely and as thoroughly as possible. Through a combination of hands-on manual therapies, exercise, and education, Barnhart, MO physical therapy treatment for neck pain can be successful in reducing pain and stiffness while improving the range of motion needed for pain-free activity. Additionally, Barnhart, MO physical therapy can assist with developing strength and flexibility in the muscles related to the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, and core, while at the same time implementing preventative modifications to avoid the risk of future pain or injury, like postural training and changes to the work-station.

With a quality Barnhart, MO physical therapy program determined by your unique neck condition and goals, you will soon be able to once again enjoy your usual mobility, flexibility, strength, and range of motion. At Axes Physical Therapy, your neck pain care near Barnhart, MO will address the cause of your neck pain and your priorities for recovery. Your personal Barnhart, MO physical therapist may design your neck pain treatment plan to include some of these treatment methods:

• Stretching –  stretches and exercises of the muscles surrounding the cervical spine increase strength and flexibity
• Core, shoulder, and back strengthening – conditioning to strengthen muscles in the torso, shoulder, and scapular region that work together to support and provide stability to the cervical spine and upper extremities
• Aerobic activity – low impact cardiovascular exercise that increase body strength and blood flow
• Traction – separating the vertebrae relieves pressure and allows inflamed and irritated nerves and discs to heal
• Postural correction – training and demonstration to develop better posture, using lumbar support and other assistive devices when appropriate
• Joint mobilization and manipulation – a manual therapy in which your physical therapist gently moves the joint in a way that mirrors normal joint and tissue movement to gradually restore normal joint function and range of motion
• Trigger point dry needling – directly targeting irritated or strained muscle tissue areas releases and relaxes the irritated tissue, which allows the muscles to reclaim their range of motion
• Massage – manual manipulation and massage of soft tissue and trigger points that helps release tension
• Therapeutic modalities – a supplement to other therapy methods – things such as ultrasound therapy and electrical stimulation
• Heat and ice – local application of heat and/or ice can manage swelling and pain
• Ergonomic modifications and devices – to prevent complication and further neck pain, support devices can be used for sleeping, sitting, working at a desk, etc
• Posture correction – training to correct posture to reduce the amount of pressure put on the neck, reduce pain, and avoid further Barnhart, MO neck pain issues

   

Neck Pain Symptoms

To truly understand the cause and extent of your neck pain and design the most effective treatment plan in Barnhart, MO, your Axes Barnhart, MO physical therapist will perform an examination to evaluate your condition. Pain is an obvious characteristic of neck pain. However, because the spine, including the cervical spine where the neck is housed, is so delightfully complex and versatile, neck pain can present in different ways throughout the body. The specific source of your neck pain may present various symptoms and you may experience certain types of pain.

Symptoms that can help diagnose the cause of your neck pain are:

• Tingling sensation or numbness of the arms or hands
• Upper extremity weakness
• Headaches
• Pain in the upper back, shoulders, arms, or hands
• Stiffness and immobility
• Increased pain when sneezing, coughing, reaching, etc
• Reduced range of motion
• Sleeping problems
• Pain that escalates during a specific period of the day, such as in the morning or before going to sleep at night

The types of neck pain you might experience include:

• Sharp
• Stabbing
• Dull
• Aching
• Throbbing
• Tingling
• Radiating

Your Barnhart, MO physical therapist will work to understand the cause of your neck pain by asking you specific questions. They may also conduct an examination designed to assess your range of motion, strength, tenderness, posture, and function. Our goal as your Barnhart, MO neck pain physical therapist is to gain as complete a picture as possible of your neck pain before beginning your treatment to be sure that we deliver the safest and most effective treatment available.

Care for your Neck Pain near Barnhart, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

If you are like 75% of us out there, you have lived with neck pain and you are not alone. Axes is familiar with just how complicated and common neck pain is–a condition that affects many of us in Barnhart, MO and throughout the United States. We have what it takes to restore you to optimal health. Axes Physical Therapy offers accessible, safe, proven neck pain care near Barnhart, MOby the hands of licensed physical therapists who specialize in the spine. Our patient-centered approach, dedicated care, and highly qualified staff make significant, long-term neck pain relief in Barnhart, MO possible.

It is time for you to know the pain-free life you deserve–the one that allows you to do all the things you love without limitations. Our family of twelve locally owned and operated physical therapy facilities offer the highest quality neck pain care in the Barnhart, MO area location of your choice. Experience the effect of Axes’ quality physical therapy treatment on your neck pain by starting a treatment program immediately. Reach us today or submit an appointment request online now.