Blog Discussions on Neck Pain

Neck Pain Denver

When your neck hurts you don’t feel like moving, it’s terrible. You can’t do the activities you love because it hurts. Here is a testimonial from a man who is feeling much better, thanks to our care.

“When I started coming to see Dr. V, my neck and shoulder were stiff and progressively losing flexibility. To turn my neck was very painful. I drive for a living, so neck and shoulder flexibility is absolutely essential.

I’m a weekend sports warrior and play golf. I need strength and flexibility because they are the key to being competitive. Thanks to Dr. V, my recovery is on its way! -E. Gallegos

Sometimes our patients notice relief so quickly they wonder why they ever hesitated to receive care. If you’re wondering whether we can help you, you’ll never know unless you call (303) 394-CARE (2273).

Mention this article for a FREE exam.

Denver Neck Pain

It’s amazing to me as a chiropractor to see how health care is changing. People who in the past were against seeing chiropractors, have come over to our side. Read this testimonial by a local pharmacist concerning his experience at our center.

“I am a Pharmacist working nights near an emergency room. I dispense pain pills, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs to patients with a variety of injuries. I don’t believe drugs are helpful in most cases, and they certainly do not contribute to long-term wellness. Since seeing Dr. V in just two weeks, my neck and left leg are beginning to heal. I can feel it. Today, I played golf for the first time this year. I couldn’t play a month ago and my neck and leg were free from pain. The improvement has been very encouraging to me. I FEEL BETTER!” – Wayne D.

The advantages of our natural approach to health are obvious to all intelligent health care providers. They realize our methods establish balance, so the body can heal itself.

Skeptical? Give us a call, (303) 394-CARE (2273). Mention this article and receive a FREE analysis, to determine if our program might offer a real solution to your health problems.

Wellness

At our center we create balance of the spine and nervous system. This allows the body to heal itself and stay well. Read this clinical case history of one of our many wellness oriented patients.

“I first met Dr. V. after I had been in a horrific car accident. I had only been to a chiropractor a couple of times, but they were not activator practitioners, so I always came out feeling worse. My roommate is the daughter of a chiropractor, so I decided to give it another chance because she assured me it would help. The day I first walked into Care Chiropractic, I could not raise my arms above my shoulders. I couldn’t move my head more than a very slight bit, I struggled to bend over to tie my shoes, and I could barely dress myself or move around without help.

Dr. V. got right to work. I saw him five days a week for a while, and after what seemed like no time at all, I began to be more mobile. I could bend a bit, move my head, and best of all tie my shoes. It was like a new lease on life. I continued to see Dr. V. four days a week, then three, and ultimately once a week. Each visit made me stronger, healthier, and better able to get around. That was almost seven years ago. I’ve continued to see Dr. V. once a week or every other week in order to stay fit, well adjusted, and feeling better than I have in my life. As an extra added bonus, I’ve been healthier in general as a result of chiropractic. Experiencing nothing more than perhaps one cold in the last seven years. Today I can easily bowl, horseback ride, work in my yard, garden, and generally do whatever I want thanks to Dr. V.”
Susan S.

To be and stay healthy, balance is the key. Give our center a call now, and lets create a state of balance at your core. Let’s set your spine in proper alignment so you can stay well over a lifetime.

Call now for a FREE examination without obligation (303) 394-CARE(2273).

Incurable?

Can neck problems be so old and so ingrained they cannot be resolved? Do necks get so arthritic and damaged there is no hope? We don’t believe so! Read this real world case history and decide for yourself.

I was in a car accident in 1985 that left me with a neck and left knee injury I thought was permanent. I started to have treatments three times a week and am still coming for care. Dr. V. has helped me considerably. I am glad to have come to him. He has helped a problem I thought I would have to live with.
-Esther G.

What are the limits of the bodies self-healing systems? Is anyone ever a “lost cause?” Is there hope for all of us?

Call our center now to see if you qualify for our special chronic neck pain rehabilitation program. We don’t accept everyone, just the cases we believe we can really help.

Even if you’ve had neck pain for years or multiple accidents, you owe it to yourself to not give up. Call (303) 394-CARE (2273).

Want ANOTHER Car Wreck?

Sometimes people have an accident that leaves their neck so stiff, they can’t look behind them or even see the blind spot while driving. This opens them to a second accident, compounding their already significant problems. Living this way is not acceptable. Read this clinical case history that reveals how our center is making a difference in the lives of whiplash victims.

“After a car accident, pain began in my neck and went down to the middle of my shoulder blades. I suffered from headaches every day, and slept only a few hours each night. The movement in my neck was so limited, I was afraid to drive because I couldn’t see around me while driving. I couldn’t turn my head in either direction to use the side view mirrors of my vehicle.

My treatments began immediately in December. Here it is March, and I have complete movement in my neck, I haven’t had a single headache and sleep throughout the night.

I never believed chiropractic adjustments would cure my pain, and help me move my head, but now I believe it’s the only medicine for me. Thank you Dr. V.!!” -Sandie W.

If you can move your neck you can see behind you, check the blind spot and be safe on the road. If your neck is stiff, you may be headed for another wreck.

Does your neck feel stiff in the morning? Are you suffering with clicking or popping in the neck? Do you have difficulty parking your car due to lack of suppleness in the spine? Don’t wait for another accident. Call (303) 394-CARE (2273). With proper care, you could feel great, and avoid another crash!

Bad Shoulder Pain

Shoulder problems have a tendency to become chronic (or long-term), if not cared for correctly and as soon as possible. They can limit movements and become sensitive to pressure while sleeping on the side.

Using a different approach and addressing the underlying cause of shoulder problems, our clinic has helped thousands with even the most difficult shoulder pain. Read this letter from yet another grateful patient from our center.

“About three years ago I hurt my left shoulder and elbow. I believe it occurred due to my 90 lb dog I had been field training. The dog bolted, and I was on the other end of a 25- foot chain. I could barely keep my shoes on when “Cocoa” ran out of leash. I’ve gone to other chiropractors and also spent a year going to an upper arm specialist. After thousands of dollars, cortisone injections etc., I still had my problem.
After just 2 months of treatment from Dr. Visentin my left arm no longer hurts me and I have full range of motion. Thanks Dr. V.” -Sonja D.

Will your results be like Sonja’s? You’ll never know unless you call. Waiting can be dangerous, and you may notice relief rather quickly, so call now. (303) 394-CARE (2273)

Live With It

If your neck has hurt so long you decided “you’ll just have to live with it”, don’t give up! You haven’t tried everything yet. Read this important real world testimonial.

“I have tolerated or suffered neck pain and tingling in my shoulders and aching in my upper back for several years. In fact, I had about decided it was just going to be something I would have to put up with for the rest of my life. Then my sister introduced me to Dr. V. I have noticed a considerable improvement already and I’ve only had a few treatments. I know that after Dr. V.’s recommended schedule of adjustments, I can live the next expected 40 or so years of my life, free of neck pain. Relief without surgery!

The adjustments are done gently and quickly with no pain or sudden twisting, and just 5 or 10 minutes on the wonderful massage table makes me feel completely relaxed and free of pain. Thank you, Dr. V.” – Dorothy F.

Sometimes people feel condemned to a lifetime of pain. This may NOT be true. Call our center for a FREE examination without obligation to find out for sure. (303) 394-CARE (2273)

Denver TMJ & Neck Pain

At the Denver Neck Pain Health Center, we have seen many links between the cervical spine, (neck) and other parts of the body. The Temporal Mandibular Joint, or TMJ, is just one of those areas. It is a small joint in the front of a person’s ear that connects the mandible to the skull. It is also the most active joint of the body. Through talking, chewing, swallowing, etc., the average human being moves the TMJ up to 2,000 times daily. In the past decade, research has accrued enough data to show a link between symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction (TMJD) and Cervical Spine Dysfunction (CSD). In other words, neck and jaw problems are related.

Approximately 35% of the American population is affected by TMJD. Pain medication and/or lifestyle changes have shown results in treating the symptoms, but the right chiropractic care can help eliminate them permanently.

Dr. Visentin D.C. uses gentle chiropractic to reduce the pain associated with TMJ, while also increasing the range of motion and mobility in the jaw and neck area. Specific gentle adjustments align the TMJ, and help patients suffering from TMJD.

This type of chiropractic care will also reduce the amount of grinding and/or clicking that TMJ patients experience when they open and close their mouths. Discomfort throughout the body is reduced as well. TMJD is the perfect example of what happens to a body out of balance and how chiropractic can effectively help.

There are several different causes of TMJD. It can be due to missing teeth that force the jaw out of position. Car accidents or any other accident can cause the jaw to be knocked out of place. Sleeping on the stomach or side, can cause the jaw to be displaced as well. Grinding teeth while sleeping however is the most common reason for TMJD.

Pain can start gradually and increase over several days or months. Pain may occur when opening and closing the mouth. The jaw will click, forcing the mandible to a side. Occasionally, just moving the head or neck can create stress on the joint. The constant pressure creates severe pain in the jaw and excessive strain on the muscles. If untreated. TMJD can lead to tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.

Dr. Visentin, D.C. and the Denver Neck Pain Health Center can reduce the discomfort a patient has around the jaw area, and help eliminate the head and ear aches that are commonly associated with TMJ problems. They can also eliminate the excessive strain and pressure over the muscles around the jaw and neck regions.

Care for TMJD has several variables, including the severity of the condition, medical history and if the patient has had previous chiropractic care. TMJD is often overlooked by physicians. If you are suffering from TMJD and live in the Denver area, schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Visentin, D.C. He will perform a thorough assessment of the head and neck area and create a customized plan to address your condition. Call (303) 394-CARE (2273).

Neck Pain & Surgery

Neck pain can be a debilitating condition that may seem like it will never go away. There are many causes of neck pain and it is a good idea to know what is causing it before you treat it invasively. Before you consider surgery for your neck pain, consider this; a recent research article titled “Treatment of Neck Pain: Injections and Surgical Interventions” published in SPINE medical journal in 2008 concluded that “there is currently no justification for surgery in patients suffering from neck pain without other serious symptoms and pathologies.”

All of your symptoms should be evaluated by your chiropractor or medical doctor so that you both have more information to base your decision on. If you and your doctor decide that surgery is your best option, consider it, but get all of your facts before you go under the knife.

In another study published in SPINE medical journal in 2008 titled “Treatment of Neck Pain: Noninvasive Interventions” it was found that “evidence suggests that therapies involving manual therapies (spinal manipulation) and exercise are more effective than other strategies for patients with neck pain.”

Other strategies studied were acupuncture, corticosteroid use, conventional medical care, cervical collars, and other physical therapy modalities. Spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments with exercise were the most effective in reducing neck pain both in the short and long term.

Chiropractic adjustments work to stimulate mechanoreceptors in your joints, which send messages to your brain telling it to increase motion, decrease pain sensitivity, and reset your motor programs within your muscles. All of these things act to rebalance your posture, decrease muscle spasm, and improve your overall function.

With a properly functioning neck, you are less likely to become injured from small movements you make every day. You have fewer muscle spasms and are less sensitive to pain. Your body starts to regain proper posture and this also puts less stress on your spinal cord and surrounding tissues. Chiropractic affects your body on a global scale with very specific, gentle adjustments.

Other things you can do to alleviate your neck pain is to practice good posture, exercise and build endurance in your neck muscles, get a massage, keep moving, and make sure that you have good support at night in your pillow and mattress. Talk to you chiropractor more about ways to reduce your neck pain so that you do not have to live with it anymore!

Denver Neck Pain

As a doctor, I sometimes wonder why people live with neck pain. The techniques I use are so effective, it makes all their suffering seem pointless. Read this testimonial by one of our many enthusiastic patients.

“Before adjustments by Dr. Visentin I was constantly bothered by problems in my upper neck. Eventually I could not stand perfectly straight and was in constant pain. After just one adjustment by Dr. V. I was instantly transformed into a 100% pain free human!! I stand straight up now, pain free, comfortable, and I enjoy doing all the things I used to do! I can’t thank Dr. V. and his great staff enough! Thanks, thanks, thanks. -Ted P.

To see if you qualify for my special neck pain relief program, call (303) 394-CARE (2273). I don’t accept every patient I examine, but I help nearly everyone I accept.

Our Unique Approach To Neck Pain

Dr. Visentin specializes in the non-surgical treatment of the neck. The causes of neck pain are usually either mechanical (the way a spine moves and interacts with the rest of the body) or neurological (nerve-related). Chiropractic care has been safely utilized by millions and millions of patients and can make a tremendous difference in your life.

Dr. Visentin has been through extensive training in order to diagnose the various neck conditions and recommend proper care. He takes an active, hands-on approach that can restore motion to the spine and relieve significant pain due to:

• “whiplash”
• cervical sprain
• cervical disc
• spinal joint restriction
• various types of chronic neck pain.

When a patient visits our center with a complaint of neck pain, the entire spine is evaluated. Dr. Visentin checks all three areas of the spine, neck (cervical spine), mid-back (thoracic spine), and low back (lumbar spine). It’s imperative that the entire spine be examined, because problems in the neck may also affect other areas of the body.

Dr. Visentin can diagnose disc injuries, muscle spasms, restricted joint motion, and ligament injuries. He does this by using techniques unique to chiropractic called motion and static palpation. He searches for tightness, tenderness, and how well each spinal joint moves by using his hands. He also studies posture and the way patients walk. These little details can help him evaluate overall body mechanics. This exam assists him in creating a proper approach for care.
The exact care plan depends on the diagnosis. He uses a combination of instrumental, manual techniques, therapeutic exercises, and ice therapy. Here are examples of spinal adjustment techniques that may be used:

• specific spinal adjustments: Joints that are restricted or show abnormal motion are identified (these are also known as subluxations). Motion is returned to the joint by a gentle thrusting technique. This rapidly stretches the soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to return to normal in the spine. This works well for neck joint restrictions and movement abnormalities.
• instrument-assisted adjusting: Another technique features a virtually painless, hand-held instrument that is used to apply corrective force to the spine.

A manual therapy that might be used is:

• trigger point therapy: Tight points on a muscle are carefully identified and direct pressure is applied to them to relieve tension.

Dr. Visentin is a true neck pain specialist. He can help you return to normal activities in a quick, non-invasive way so that you can go back to enjoying your daily life pain free. If you are suffering neck pain and live in the Denver, CO area, or if you have any questions about this topic, contact Dr. Visentin D.C., at (303) 394- CARE (2273) the Denver Neck Pain Health Center.

Physical, Emotional, Chemical Stress and Neck Pain

s there something in your life that is literally being a "pain in your neck"? For many of the patients we see at our Denver Neck Pain Health Center neck pain can be as simple as being from tight muscles, or as severe as a herniated disc, but all can be debilitating. A lot of people hold stress in their upper traps at the base of their neck, causing tight muscle spasms, which can lead to neck pain and headaches. There are three different sources of stress that could be causing your neck pain.

1. Physical stress – Improper posture can lead to increased stress on your joints, muscles, and most importantly your nervous system. When you sit at a desk all day or walk around with your shoulders and head slumped forward, you are drastically increasing the force on your neck ligaments and spinal discs. Just think, your head weighs roughly ten pounds. Imagine holding a ten pound bowling ball out in front of you with an outstretched arm. Most people probably wouldn't last very long! When you develop this posture over time, which is called forward head posture, your ligaments deform and become stretched out, thereby inducing muscle spasms to try to stabilize your neck. In addition, there can be bone degeneration in your spinal vertebra and disc damage in your neck. All of these things can cause pain and dysfunction in your neck.
2. Emotional stress – Have you ever realized that when you become stressed or upset about something, somehow your shoulders creep up around your ears? You are holding your stress in your upper traps and chances are that you have tight muscles and tender trigger points. A few things that you can do are to find something relaxing, get a massage, talk to a friend, or take a walk to decrease the stress that you are feeling. Getting adjusted by your chiropractor also helps your body to better adapt to stress, which keeps your shoulders grounded, rather than up around your ears.
3. Chemical stress – With any kind of stress, it is imperative that you support your body with a healthy diet so that you can adapt optimally to the stress that you encounter. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Decrease your sugar, alcohol, and caffeine intake. Avoid processed foods and artificial sugar substitutes. Avoid dairy and foods high in gluten, such as bread and pasta. Brown rice pasta is a great alternative to semolina pasta and tastes great! All of these dietary choices will decrease your inflammatory response, decrease your pain sensitivity, and increase your vitality and energy. Start making healthy food choices and feel the difference!

Neck pain can be from a number of different causes. Whether it is physical, emotional, or chemical stress, make sure that your body is well adjusted so that you have the best chance to adapt to those stresses. Neck pain is not a normal progression in life, so do not let it be in yours!

Dr. Visentin is a Denver Chiropractor of Care Chiropractic specializing in safe, effective and natural neck pain relief.

Neck Pain Denver

Most frequently neck pain is brought on by injuries old and new. The neck is very complicated. Accidents, slips, jerks, and jolts can have an accumulative effect resulting in subluxation of the various vertebrae that hold the head up and allow it to move. Subluxation means bones out of place interfering with the nervous system.

Using ice is usually a good idea when neck pain is severe, or the origin is recent. Never apply ice directly to the neck. Use a wet towel between the ice and the skin. Use ice up to twenty minutes, three times daily.

Later on, hot moist heat can be helpful, particularly in cases of old injuries or stiffness deep in the neck joints. Gentle movements of the neck may also be advised. Frequent breaks from computer work to stretch can also be helpful.

Our care of the neck is very, very safe. Gentle alignments of the various neck bones offer great relief of many neck problems. Proper alignment can be obtained through the use of instruments that help re-align the vertebrae or neck bones. This adjustment can be made by hand as well.

Call Dr. Visentin now, for a free consultation without obligation (303)394-CARE (2273).

Car Accidents & Neck Pain

Motor vehicle accidents, no matter the speed or the perceived severity can be very damaging to your neck. It has been documented that being rear ended at speeds of even 5 miles per hour can give you a whiplash injury. The damage to your car does not measure the damage to your spine and muscles around it.

When you are hit, your body is projected forward because there is more mass there than your head. However, your head does catch up and is projected forward in a whip-like momentum. This happens so fast that a lot of times, people who are in car accidents do not realize they have a whiplash injury at the time of the accident. However a few hours to a couple days later, they start feeling the effects in their neck.

What happens from a whiplash injury is that during impact your neck is forced very rapidly into hyper extension and then hyper flexion. This puts extreme stress on the ligaments holding your neck vertebrae together. The ligaments and surrounding muscles get micro tears and pain and inflammation occurs. This all starts happening immediately and within 72 hours or your accident, you are already laying down scar tissue to repair the damaged tissues. That is why you may have a stiff, sore neck after your accident.

sooner after your car accident that you see your chiropractor, the better. They will fully evaluate your neck for any fractures, soft tissue injuries, and neck instability. Because scar tissue has already been laid down, chiropractic adjustments are extremely effective in reintroducing motion and proper function to the joints in your neck. When you have proper movement, the scar tissue is formed in a more organized way according to the stresses put on it. When scar tissue forms without any outside influence, it is very haphazard and not as strong as the original structures.

Ask your chiropractor about treating your neck pain with ice or heat therapies. They may also recommend ultrasound or cold laser therapy. The bottom line is that your body starts healing from a whiplash injury immediately and there is a four day window from the time of the accident where you can make big improvements towards your complete recovery. Do not let a car accident be a pain in your neck for long. Take action and get help from your chiropractor today.

Failed Neck Surgery

Over the years I’ve noticed that patients who’s spinal surgeries failed, do very well under my care. In some cases, I’ve told them, “You have nowhere to go but up.” I let them know my care is, “very safe” compared to surgery. Even though their surgery may have failed, their chances of getting well at my center were good.

Science is starting to catch up with what chiropractors have known for years. We help people even when medicine and surgery have failed miserably. The article below is proof of how our methods can help patients even after surgery.

Chiropractic treatment of post surgical neck syndrome with mechanical force, manually assisted short-lever spinal adjustments. Polkinghorn, BS, Colloca, CJ J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;24:589-95

A 35-year old woman had two surgeries on her neck for chronic pain: a diskectomy at C3/4 and a fusion at C5/6. Surgeries were performed 6 months apart. Neither surgery was effective. Five years after the second surgery, a third surgery was recommended but instead the patient sought chiropractic care.

Within 30 days of her first chiropractic adjustment, all of her chronic symptoms had resolved. Two year follow-up revealed, no more neck problems.
Even if you’ve undergone a painful surgery with no relief, don’t give up hope. Give our center a call and see if you qualify for our advanced post surgical rehabilitation services. Call (303) 394-CARE (2273) In most instances, insurance pays.

Neck Braces Dangerous?

Why would a cervical collar be harmful, don’t they help neck pain? Aren’t people supposed to wear them after accidents? What can happen if we wear them too much?

Neck supports offer comfort after injuries but can cause a great deal of damage, especially if they are worn excessively. Neck braces lead to bone loss or osteoporosis. They cause muscle wasting or weakness, and even lead to psychological dependency.

The human body is an amazing machine, and even knows when we use supports. The body senses less mechanical stress in areas that are being supported. When it does, it removes calcium from the bones because it assumes less is needed to hold the head up. The muscles around the spine become weaker as they are used less. Finally, people get habituated to the false sense of comfort collars offer. They sometimes wear them longer than they should and become dependant on them physically and mentally.

Cervical collars are beneficial when prescribed and used correctly. Wearing a neck brace for a few days immediately after an accident can be helpful in reducing pain and allowing for healing. As the tissues become stronger and heal, it’s important that they are used less frequently.

They should never be worn to sleep, as a high quality cervical pillow (a pillow with a special curve for the neck), is much more beneficial while resting.

Hard cervical collars are useful in cases of neck fractures (broken bones). As the neck heals or, when they’ve served their purpose, even hard collars should be used less and less. Eventually, they too should be discarded.

If you see someone wearing a cervical collar, ask them about it. Often times they can get great relief with gentle chiropractic care. Gentle movement to the joints of the neck after accidents in particular, facilitate complete healing. Chiropractic is a safe effective way to create movements that let the body mend itself with little or no painful scar tissue. Without chiropractic, the spine heals poorly and is subject to pain and arthritis.

Denver Neck Pain

Many times people come to us after they’ve been everywhere else. They’re surprised how gentle our care is. Often times we see some real miracles with the most resistant cases, read this testimonial carefully;

Twenty years ago I visited a chiropractor and he left me in so much pain that I cried for days. So, when I developed the neck and shoulder pain with migraines a year and a half ago, chiropractic care was not even an option. I had tried everything short of opioids. A friend of mine referred me to Dr. V. and by this time I was desperate. By the first adjustment I felt better and I finally had hope. My son always rubs my back for me and he said he could feel the difference in my back. He said it was smooth and not all knotted up anymore. I’m not completely healed yet and I know it will take time, but I know I am finally on my way to a full recovery! - G. Rivera

Home Care For "Sharp" Neck Pain

For neck pain that feels sharp, shooting, hot, piercing, electric or severe, try using ice. Use ice 5-20 minutes three times a day. Never place ice directly on the skin. Use a wet towel between the ice and the skin, especially with sensitive skin.

Little Known Facts About The Neck

• Giraffes and humans have the same number of neck vertebrae, 7!
• The neck has the greatest range of motion of any of the regions in your spine.
• Proper alignment of the neck bones is a critical factor in overall health.

Surprising Facts About The Neck

• According to Cailliet, M.D. car accidents as slow as 7 miles per hour can
  cause “severe tissue damage and injury” to the neck.
  
• Neck collars or cervical collars can injure the neck if worn too long.
  
• Neck misalignments (or subluxations) can cause headaches and tingling in the arm.

Fascinating Neck Facts

• Computer work can injure the neck when done incorrectly.
  
• Using more than one pillow at a time causes neck problems.
  
• Doctors of chiropractic are considered the best doctors to see in cases of whiplash.

Neck Pain? A Chirpractor can Help!

Pseudo torticollis is when your neck muscles go into spasm and makes it difficult to move your head in all directions. It is not always known why this happens, but can occur after sleeping in an unsupportive position, or from turning your head rapidly and causing microtrauma in your tissues. Your body tries to brace against this trauma and avoid further injury by inducing muscle spasms. The problem with this in the long term is that when your body starts healing, it lays down scar tissue. Normal tissue is laid down in patterns that respond the best to stress. However, scar tissue is laid down in haphazard ways that does not give you the most stable, functional foundation.

If you woke up with a stiff neck, ask your chiropractor to evaluate your pillow. Sometimes pillows are much too high or too low for your head and do not give you good support while sleeping. Also, sleep on either your back or your side and avoid sleeping on your stomach. Just think, if you tried to keep your head turned to one side for a prolonged period of time, your neck would become tired and sore and you would not be able to hold that position for very long. So why does it make sense to sleep in that position for 7-9 hours? It doesn’t.

If you do have pseudo torticollis, get checked by your chiropractor. By getting your neck adjusted, your muscles relax, scar tissue is laid down according to stress or broken up entirely, and pain and inflammation are decreased. Your chiropractor may recommend modalities such as ice, heat, or ultrasound depending on the severity and phase of injury that you present with.

True torticollis is congenital and is seen only in newborn babies, most likely caused by the birth process or the position in utero. Pseudo torticollis happens anytime after infancy, and usually in adulthood. It occurs from micro damage to your tissues, which causes muscle spasm and neck stiffness. Your head was made to move in all directions. So before you settle for one field of view any longer, go get checked by your chiropractor!

How to Prevent Neck Pain

There is a reason for that. Did you know that your head weighs roughly the amount of a ten pound bowling ball? When your head is not supported by the rest of your body, this puts enormous strain on your neck muscles because they are working harder than they have to in order to hold your head up. We see this most commonly in people with what is called forward head posture. Instead of their ears being directly over their shoulders, their head sits slightly forward and gravity puts added stress on their neck. This happens a lot with people who use computers all day or drive a lot. When you sit in a slumped position, not only is this putting added tension on your low back, but you tend to slouch in your upper back and neck as well, protruding your head further out front than it should be. Start by sitting up nice and tall with a good foundation in your low back so that your head naturally falls into place.

First, to determine if you have forward head posture, stand in a neutral posture. Have someone look at you from the side to see if your ear falls directly over your shoulder. If it does, then continue to practice good posture, and if it does not, try these simple exercises to recondition your neck muscles.

• In neutral posture, gently bring your head back without tipping your chin up. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times.
• While you are driving, make sure your headrest is high enough for you and gently press the back of your head into the headrest, again without tipping your chin up. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times

These simple exercises help to recondition your neck muscles so that they can hold your head in the correct position and there will be less strain on your muscles and ligaments. Your chiropractor will also be able to assess your posture and tell you whether or not that could be the source of your neck pain. In addition to good posture, your chiropractor will make gentle, specific adjustments to your neck to realign your spine, increase motion, and restore proper function so that you can return to your optimum state of health.

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