My Fitness Edge

Whenever we wake up in the morning with a stiff and painful neck, the tendency is to blame the condition on our pillow, bed, or sleep position during that night. We also try to figure out what is occurring when sudden neck movement causes a sharp pain that feels as if “something” has slipped out of position or that a nerve is being “pinched.” Though it may seem so, one isolated occurrence is seldom the cause of most neck problems, but instead the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, poor work and lifestyle habits, and lack of beneficial exercise for strength and flexibility. Naturally, some neck problems are due to traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury.

To understand neck pain, it is helpful to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the neck consist of posterior joints, called facets, that attach vertebrae to one another and serve to direct the motion of the spine. The inter-vertebral discs link the bodies of the vertebrae and are comprised of a form of strong cartilage that encases a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The primary function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. In a canal located between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. The spinal nerves go out from the spine between the vertebrae and impart the energy to make the muscles and other organs of the body function. They also carry impulses from the body to the brain concerning pain, touch, position, temperature, as well as other senses.  The nerves that exit from the neck are in charge of the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The natural forward curve of the neck balances the weight of the head and alleviates stress on neck vertebrae. For more information please feel free to visit your Colorado Springs Chiropractor.

Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use

Computer use has risen significantly over the years, at home and in the workplace. Nowadays, a large number of people spend eight to ten hours a day, or more, bent over a keyboard and staring at a monitor. Sitting with the head in a forward bent position (the posture most computer users take on), puts enormous strain on neck ligaments and muscles. In addition, the normal forward curve of the neck becomes reversed causing more stress upon all the surrounding tissues of the neck. Awkward posture and repetitive stress can cause spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the primary causes of spinal nerve pain. In addition to general pain, spinal nerve pain in the neck can generate symptoms like headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

Headaches or migraines are usually associated with dysfunction of the cervical spine. When the cervical vertebrae lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels that are related to structures in the head are stretched or irritated thus producing symptoms from a dull ache to throbbing pain. Trigger points, the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, can also refer pain to the head.  Many other factors are associated with headaches such as toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. Still one must always look at the tissues and alignment of the neck when speculating the origin of headaches and migraines. Chiropractic care has been shown to singularly valuable in the treatment of headaches. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor can give you further information regarding treatment and pain relief.

Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Many people are involved in car accidents. Almost certainly the most common auto accident is when one car collides into the rear-end of another car. During such an accident, the passenger in the front automobile gets his or her head forcibly jolted backward and then forward causing injury to the structures of the back and front of the neck. This sort of injury is often called a whiplash. Even at low speeds, the amount of force produced by such an accident is very powerful and can cause damage to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Whiplash injury includes neck pain and immobility, and other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and should pain, tingling in the hands and fingers, and weakness of the arms and hand. It is extremely important to get immediate evaluation and x-rays to rule out the possibility of fracture. Usually in many cases, the injuries are mainly to the soft tissues and joints. Proper treatment is vital in healing from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor is extremely knowledgeable in the area of whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from start to finish.