The cervical spine (neck) is a common source of pain for many people. The pain can be produced from one of many structures in the neck, including: bones, joints, ligaments, nerves, discs, joint capsules, muscles, and tendons. Injuries can occur for many reason, and are often associated with whiplash, sleeping wrong, poor posture, computer use, phone use, sports injury, and normal degenerative wear and tear. Depending on the structures involved, the symptoms can stay in the neck or radiate into the shoulder, shoulder blade, and down the arm. It is important to address the symptoms early to prevent further exacerbation and involvement of surrounding tissues.
The cervical spine, especially the upper part, is home to many nerves and relay centers for the brain. Because of this, it plays an important role in balance and orientation in space. With acute, and more so chronic conditions of the cervical spine, one may start to experience sensation of lightheadedness, dizziness, or disequilibrium. By properly treating the source of the symptoms, and the changes in surrounding tissue, these sensations should improve as well.
Physical therapy is more than stretches and exercises. We are trained in manual therapy techniques to address the various impairments that may be present. We also discuss in detail daily activities that may be contributing to your symptoms, and how to modify them to reduce exacerbation. We will perform an extensive evaluation to determine which structures are involved, and come up with the most appropriate treatment plan for each individual.
