NON-SPECIFIC NECK PAIN
Physiotherapy treatment including joint mobilisations and manipulations, specific muscle re-education exercises and soft tissue mobilising techniques have all been found to be useful in the treatment of neck pain from acute through to chronic stages of the condition.
Contact us at Beaumaris Physiotherapy for further information, an assessment or treatment. We also offer ONLINE BOOKINGS.
DEGENERATION OF THE MID TO LOWER CERVICAL SEGMENTS
Degenerative changes at C4/5/6/7 can be accelerated by poor posture (slump sitting with chin poke). Manual physiotherapy treatment and postural correction exercises (strengthening of weak muscles, improving joint mobility of stiffened joints, patient education) are essential to slow down the degenerative process. Upper thoracic spinal pain is often referred pain from the cervical spine rather than a local thoracic spine injury. Sustained poor postures can also lead to upper cervical spine stiffness and headache, and increased thoracic kyphosis with associated stiffening of the thoracic spine
PRESENTATION
The patient may present with aching within the area of referral for the affected facet joint(s), restricted neck mobility (particularly with rotation, such as difficulty reversing in the car), and sharp pain with end range movement.
RESEARCH
The Australian Physiotherapy Association previously published the “Neck Pain Position Statement” (updated every 2 years), which reviews current research on efficacy of treatment for neck pain. Research published from the University of Queensland has proven that cervical spine mobilization techniques directly improve pain and mobility levels in both acute and chronic neck pain syndromes.
PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT
Joint mobilisations and manipulations, muscle stretches, muscle re-education (strengthening) exercises, postural exercises, thoracic mobility, neural mobilising techniques, and patient education are all important components of physiotherapy treatment for non-specific neck pain. Joints that look degenerative on x-ray do not necessarily have to cause pain.
If the joints are mobile and the muscles are strong and flexible, then the patient can expect to have excellent pain free movement and function. It is important to “move it or lose it”.
We provide physiotherapy service to Beaumaris in Ocean Reef as well as across all the Northern Suburbs including Heathridge physio services, Currambine, Mullaloo physiotherapy, Joondalup, Connolly, Beldon and Iluka physiotherapy.