Red
Bank Chiropractic Office Offers Drug Free Solution to Neck Pain
In
nature, the shape of a circle, or sphere, is the strongest three
dimensional figure; geometry also posits that the circle is the
strongest structural shape. This is true because when stress is
distributed equally along an arc, it cannot be concentrated on
any one point.
The
human body is an incredible structure. It has incorporated this
strongest of shapes in the neck, which was designed to curve in
order to provide greater shock absorption and weight bearing abilities
to hold up the head. When in a normal, healthy position, this cervical
lordosis (neck curvature) allows the spinal cord to remain soft
for a better flow of blood and nerves to the rest of the body.
Neck
Pain and Posture
One
of the most common causes of neck pain is poor posture, which can
lead to a change in the shape and position of the curve of the neck.
When viewed from the side, the neck should have a c-shaped curve
(between 40 and 60 degrees).
Poor
posture may be caused by the following:
•
Daily activities: Routine behaviors such as sitting too long at
a desk or behind a computer as well as sleeping in an awkward position
may result in unhealthy posture.
• Lifestyle: Issues with obesity, or weak abdominal muscles,
can disrupt the spine’s balance and cause postural issues.
However, even healthy activities such as gardening or tennis have
the potential to cause problems.
• Aging: Age related disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal
stenosis, and degenerative disc disease directly affect the cervical
spine.
• Injury and Accidents: Whiplash is the sudden forced movement
of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting rebound of
the head or neck in the opposite direction. The abrupt whipping
motion causes injury to the surrounding and supporting tissues of
the neck and head.
Poor
posture most commonly leads to a loss or even a reversal in the
normal curvature of the neck. It often results in a forward head
position. For every inch that the head moves forward in posture,
the weight of the head on the neck increases exponentially by ten
pounds. For example, a forward neck posture of three inches increases
the weight of the head by thirty pounds (the average human head
is ten pounds), and the pressure placed on the muscles of the neck
increases six times.
When
the spine is misaligned (subluxated), normal movement is altered,
and inflammation is the result. Poor posture places abnormal stress
on bones, which are then forced to remodel in order to accommodate
this new pressure. This action spurs osteoblast cells in the bone
to activate more growth, which presents as bone spurs and initiates
an inflammatory response. Over time, this condition can lead to
arthritis.
Treating
Posture and Neck Pain at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation
Monmouth
Pain and Rehabilitation incorporates a number of techniques in order
to ensure the total health and well-being of clients. This includes
emphasizing a healthy lifestyle and helping patients commit to changing
damaging behaviors (in particular, the behaviors that may be causing
pain).
Unlike
painkilling drugs, chiropractic treats the cause of pain, not just
the pain itself. Because chiropractors are trained in the care of
non-surgical conditions of the neck, consulting one of these specialists
is an obvious solution.
Chiropractic
treatment for neck pain at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation is a
particularly relevant option for the sufferers of neck pain in that
the practice emphasizes the importance of correcting or improving
the overall structure of the spine. Our practice uses a number of
established techniques to treat the causes of neck pain, as well
as a revolutionary method known as Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP).
CBP corrects whole spinal misalignments in order to achieve longer
lasting relief from neck pain.
Contact
Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation to learn more about how chiropractic
treatment can help you return to your normal activities quickly
and without pain.
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