Could Your Neck Pain Be Repetitive Strain Injury?

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Repetitive strain injury to the neck can occur when you regularly subject your neck to repetitive tasks or movements or you hold your neck muscles in one position for long periods of time. Repetitive strain injury can damage the muscles and tendons in your neck, causing them to tighten and compress the nerves in your neck.

Here's an overview of the symptoms of repetitive strain injury to the neck and the treatment options:

Symptoms

Symptoms of repetitive strain injury to the neck include:

  • Pain, which can be dull or throbbing and can worsen when carrying out repetitive tasks
  • Muscle weakness, which can make your neck feel heavy
  • Swelling
  • Numbness
  • Headache

Treatment

There are a number of treatment options to explore when you're suffering from repetitive strain injury to the neck. Anti-inflammatory medication can be used to bring down swelling, which can help to release compressed nerves. Reducing the swelling will also increase the blood flow to your neck, and the oxygen and nutrients in blood promote healing.

It's also a good idea to rest your neck muscles as much as possible, so if your injury was caused by repetitive tasks at work, you may want to ask your boss for a temporary change of duties.

A neck massage can increase blood circulation to your neck and loosen tight muscles and the deeper the massage the more effective it will be. Consider booking a deep tissue or Swedish massage and ask a massage therapy clinic to concentrate on your neck muscles. Your neck may feel a little tender for a couple of days after an intensive massage, but as the tenderness subsides you should notice a reduction in the tension in your neck. You'll likely need several massages to experience long-term improvement of your symptoms.

Chiropractic adjustment is another effective treatment for neck pain. Chiropractor like Coogee Chiropractic will use hands-on adjustment techniques to loosen your neck muscles, free trapped nerves and ensure your neck is correctly aligned. The adjustments are typically a combination of high-velocity and low-velocity manipulations such as stretching and thrusting, and you may notice an immediate improvement in your symptoms.

The chiropractor will also show you how to do stretching and strengthening exercises at home, which can prevent a recurrence of repetitive strain injury to your neck.

If you're experiencing any of the symptoms associated with repetitive strain injury to the neck, seek treatment as soon as possible as this condition can worsen if left untreated, which can prolong the time it takes for treatment to be effective.

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21 July 2015

Walking Proof: Singing The Praises Of Chiropractors

As a chiropractor's receptionist, I have become a walking advertisement for the profession. I run marathons as a hobby and also study part-time. You can imagine the mental and physical strain I impose on my body daily. Pounding the pavements, long hours sitting at a computer and the stress of preparing for exams were taking their toll before I started this job. Fortunately, the lovely clinic where I work provides chiropractic treatments for free. I can honestly say that my aches are almost gone and I have never felt so relaxed, yet alert, when doing exams. I had never considered visiting a chiropractor before, but now I actively recruit friends and family when they complain about ailments. I hope the entries on this blog alert everyone to the broad range of services that chiropractors offer and dispel any concerns. I am certainly a very happy convert!