Around two out of three people experience neck pain throughout their lives. It has a higher prevalence in females and office workers.
Some of the main causes of neck pain include:
- Muscle strains. This is the most common cause, and can be due to excessive stress placed on the neck musculature from hours spent at a desk.
- Weakness. Weakness to the muscles of the mid-back including the middle and lower traps can lead to excessive loading to the muscles around the neck.
- Worn joints. Age related change to the joints, known as osteoarthritis can cause wear to the joint surfaces of the neck, leading to osteophytes (bony growth) and associated reduced range of motion
- Nerve compression. A disc herniation or osteophytes (bony growth) can press on the local nerves within the neck, causing pain
- Injuries. Motor collisions and sporting injuries can often result in whiplash injury, which occurs when the head is jerked backward and then forward, straining the soft tissues of the neck.
Physiotherapy for Neck Pain:
- Manual therapy (hands on)
- Strengthening- particularly of the middle and lower traps, thoracic, and lumbar spine
- Stretching
- Acupuncture
