Neck Conditions That May Respond to Chiropractic Care Include:

• Stiff or Rhy neck
• Cervical disc injuries with and without shoulder and/or arm pain
• Degenerative joint syndrome or arthritis of the neck joints
• Cervical sprains or strain
• Joint dysfunction or restriction
• Facet joint syndrome
• Whiplash
• Cervicogenic headaches

Could Chiropractic Care Help With Your Neck Pain?

Chiropractic care is a conservative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of neck pain that millions of patients world-wide chose every year. Chiropractors are doctors who specialize in the care of non-surgical conditions of the neck with gentle treatments that address the mechanical and neurological causes of neck pain.

Thorough Consultation and Examination are Important!

Chiropractors are highly trained in the diagnosis and management of neck conditions and able to offer specific treatment approaches for those conditions.  If chiropractic care is not indicated, your chiropractor will refer you the appropriate provider, such as pain management specialists, or for diagnostic tests like X-Ray or MRI, to best address your specific condition.

Before deciding if chiropractic is appropriate for your condition, your chiropractor will conduct a thorough history and examination.  The doctor will ask specific questions about how your neck pain began, what makes it better or worse, and gather information about your past health history to help decide if chiropractic care is appropriate.

Physical exam will include testing for muscle weakness or reflex loss, range of motion and palpation – feeling or pressing on the neck muscles – to see if muscles are in spasm.  The joints of your neck will be tested for restricted joint motion or ligament injury.

Treatment Options for Neck Pain

Spinal manipulation or mobilization - active, hands-on treatments that returns motion to the spine – are the main treatments that chiropractors provide for the conservative management of neck pain.   But “cracking” your neck is not always the only – or best – way to manage your neck pain.  Exercise, evaluation of your habits of daily living and stress management may also be part of your treatment plan.

Possible Chiropractic Treatment Approaches for Neck Pain

After consult and exam, your chiropractor will suggest a treatment plan specific to your condition.  Treatment may use a combination of gentle manipulation or mobilization of your neck, manual therapies and home exercises.

Some spinal manipulation techniques are:

• Spinal manipulation: Joints in your neck that are restricted are identified and returned to normal motion with a gentle thrusting technique.
• Spinal Mobilization: This is a gentle, non-thrusting approach to restoring joint motion.  Mobilization is often the best choice to manage joint pain and restriction for those who prefer a more gentle treatment or have significant arthritic changes in their neck.

The chiropractor may also use soft tissue treatments as part of the conservative treatment of neck pain.  These treatments may include:

• Trigger point therapy: Direct pressure on painful points in a muscle.
• stretching and resistance techniques
• Ice or heat

In addition to spinal manipulation, mobilization and manual techniques, the chiropractor may use passive modalities to relax the muscles. Some examples are:

• Inferential electrical stimulation: This uses comfortable electrical stimulation to help relax your muscles.
• Ultrasound: Creates a gentle heat that enhances circulation in muscles and ligaments, helping to reduce muscle spasms, cramping, swelling, stiffness, and pain.

To reinforce improved function of the joints and muscles in your neck,  your chiropractor will prescribe specific exercises for you to do at home.

Will Chiropractic Care of My Neck Cause a Stroke?

Spinal manipulation is a safe approach to treating neck pain. A recent review of literature addressing the question of the relationship between spinal manipulation and stroke concluded that manipulation was not a significant factor in causing strokes (1).

1. Cassidy J, Boyle E, Côté P, He Y, Hogg-Johnson S, Silver F, Bondy S. Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care: Results of a Population-Based Case-Control and Case-Crossover Study. Spine. 2008;33(4S): S176-S183.