With approximately two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives neck pain is one of the more common problems we see at Health and Fitness Solutions.

Neck pain and injury can come in many forms. Pain can vary from dull to sharp (often described as a trapped nerve), constant to intermittent in nature, and is generally due to ‘irritation’ of a number tissues in the region (joint, disc, nerve, ligament, disc) rather than one specific tissue. The nerve tissue that supplies the muscles and skin of our upper limbs originates from the neck so symptoms such as pins and needles, numbness, and even loss of strength in the arm are also sometimes present.

Most neck problems start gradually with no apparent cause or event that the sufferer can recall. The injury process is slow with gradual wear and tear often, over many years, eventually resulting in pain. In this instance underlying causes of the problem include poor sitting posture (especially head/neck position), an adverse workstation / desk environment, and altered muscular control of the head/neck and shoulder blade regions.

Neck pain can also result from a specific movement or trauma where it is obvious what has started the problem, such as a tackle in rugby, a fall, or a ‘whiplash’ from a motor-vehicle accident. Research has conclusively demonstrated that pain inhibits correct functioning of the muscles that support our head and neck region which leads to further pain and acts as a barrier to recovery as and altered posture and movement patterns develop.

Effective treatment of neck problems involves identifying and managing the underlying causes present. Manual therapy techniques are used to loosen joint and soft tissue restrictions, while posture correction and specific exercises help to improve muscular control of the head/neck and shoulder blades decreasing stress to the region. The majority of sufferers tend to work at desks and as such optimising this environment through ergonomic assessment is often the key to successful management of this problem.