Physical therapy is a common treatment for neck pain. The therapy helps reduce stiffness and pain in the neck, and when the pain subsides, the therapist works to improve the range of motion of the neck and head.
The therapist also works towards strengthening the neck and its supporting muscles to ensure that the area doesn’t develop further injuries. Once the therapy is over, the professional shares tips to prevent the recurrence of the pain. These include improving posture, avoiding certain actions when doing chores, etc. Read through the section below to know more about physical therapy for neck pain.
Relieve neck pain and restore your mobility book a personalized physical therapy consultation with Magnet Health today!
Who Should Undergo Physical Therapy for Neck Pain?
People with Chronic Neck Pain: If your neck pain doesn’t subside or keeps coming back, diagnosing the root cause or understanding the pattern of the pain becomes difficult. Physical therapy delivers great results in such situations. An experienced therapist will help you recover by strengthening your neck muscles and cervical spine and increasing your pain threshold.
People with Neck Injuries: When you incur an injury like whiplash, the joints and soft tissues of your neck get seriously damaged. The result is stiffness and pain in the area that tends to last for months. You can speed up the healing process by undergoing physical therapy.
People Who Have Undergone Surgeries: Certain surgical procedures involving the neck or the spine can leave your neck stiff and sore.Physical therapy helps in reconditioning the ailing muscles and eventually eliminates the pain and stiffness.
How Long Does the Therapy Take?
When you arrive for your first physical therapy session for neck pain, the therapist will evaluate your condition thoroughly before deciding what kind of therapy you need. It’s a time-consuming process, which makes the duration of the first session longer than the following ones.
If you visit a trusted clinic like Magnet Health, the first session will run for at least 90 minutes. Here, you must note that Magnet Health is the biggest multi-specialty clinic in the Bronx. So, if you live in and around this borough, it is the best option not only for undergoing physical therapy for neck pain but also for orthopedic consultations.
The subsequent sessions will typically run for 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the specific needs of the patient. Most patients with neck pain require six to 12 physical therapy sessions, which take place over a period of three to six weeks. It means one needs to undergo physical therapy for neck pain two to three times per week. Patients usually experience a notable reduction in pain and a significantly improved range of motion from the third or fourth week.
What to Expect During Physical Therapy for Neck Pain?
The Start: The therapist begins by evaluating the patient. The first step of evaluation is checking the patient’s posture and movement.
The therapist will also ask you to share your medical history along with details of past injuries. You will also need to inform them about your daily habits. Next, the therapist will conduct a thorough physical exam. The therapist will test your muscle strength, the range of motion of your neck, joint mobility, etc. You will also be asked to stand and sit multiple times to help the expert comprehend whether there are any alignment issues with your posture.
Treatment Methods: Once the therapist identifies the health problem or posture issues responsible for causing neck pain, he/she begins the treatment. The initial treatment includes gentle massage using hands and targeted exercises for mobilizing the upper back and neck joints.
Applying ice and/or heat packs is also common, respectively for reducing soreness and swelling, and loosening stiff muscles. Another technique physical therapists use to stretch the neck and reduce stiffness is traction.
Exercises: Once the patient starts feeling better and the pain is almost gone, the therapist introduces him/her to certain exercises. These include stretching exercises to reduce stiffness and make the neck joints more flexible, strengthening exercises to build muscles and provide the much-needed extra support to the patient’s upper back, shoulders, and neck.
Training for Prevention: During the final sessions, the therapist will teach you how to prevent the recurrence of neck pain. For instance, you will undergo posture training to learn the correct way to sit, stand, bend, etc. The therapist will also help you set up your workspace so that you can place your neck safely. You will also learn exercises that you will have to practice regularly at home to ensure you don’t get neck pain again.
Conclusion
It would be great if your physical therapist designs your treatment plan after consulting your orthopedic. You can make that possible by using the services of a well-known multi-specialty clinic in your area.
