Pain In The Neck

By Suzanne Seff, MBA PT

The cervical spine is made up of 7 cervical vertebrae. Often the first sign of a neck problem will be a crunching sound as you turn your head, or pain when you attempt to look behind you when parking your car. I’ve heard patient’s complaints of shoulder pain as well, when it’s really related to the neck. Weakness of the muscles that control the neck as well as the shoulder blade or scapula may be contributing to the problem. An exercise program that maintains the range of motion of the neck, strengthens the postural muscles of the upper back and stretches the neck and shoulders can be effective in controlling the symptoms of neck pain. Maintaining good postural alignment and great lumbar support as well as a cervical pillow can make a big difference.

Cervical Collars are often prescribed by physicians for neck pain. Unfortunately they may support necks in an abnormal position and cause weakness to the already weak neck musculature. I never recommend them unless there are stability issues. Heat packs may soothe the neck, whereas cold packs may decrease pain and inflammation. Most importantly, keep exercising and limit the use of the computer especially a laptop.