How common is back and neck pain?
According to the best available data, about 80 percent of the population will experience back pain or neck pain in their lifetimes. Those bouts don’t include minor incidents like the occasional twinge, but instead the serious sprains, strains, spasms and impaired range of motion problems that make it so hard to function.
In some cases, the causes of your back and neck pain may be obvious — if you’ve recently been in a car accident or suffered a sports injury, for example. Often, however, problems can develop through poor posture or from having to perform the same action repeatedly. In addition, if you’re often obliged to spend too much time at your desk or in the car and not enough time being active, the resulting muscle weakness can add to the problem.
What are the consequences of not getting help?
Patients who seek treatment from their neck and back pain are often surprised to learn that some other problems they’ve been experiencing might be related. So even if you think you can “live with” not being able to turn your neck fully, other problems can accumulate.
For example, if you have chronic migraines or frequent bouts of tension headaches, a pinched nerve in your neck may actually be the culprit, rather than your diet or your busy schedule. In addition, you may find that the problems you’ve been having with shoulder mobility — or shooting pains down your arms and hands — might actually spring from your spinal issues.
How can back and neck pain be treated?
Our patients are often referred to us by their primary physicians or by a specialist, and we’ll continue to work with your medical team to treat the specific cause of your pain. Our highly trained physical therapists will also give you a full evaluation, including a spinal alignment assessment, simple tests to evaluate muscle strength in the areas that support your back or neck, and range-of-motion evaluations.
Once we’ve pinpointed the main cause of your neck or back pain, we’ll develop a treatment plan with you. In your sessions, you’ll be taken through moves that build strength and flexibility. Our team will also help you learn how to better position yourself during your daily life to avoid relapses, including ergonomic and posture tips.
Call SOL Physical Therapy + Performance today so we can help you quickly resolve the debilitating back or neck pain you’re feeling now – and learn how to prevent it in the future.
