Neck Pain Exeter - Osteopath Exeter

Neck Pain

Experiencing neck pain can be very unpleasant wearing you down and having an affect on your daily activities. Your symptoms may range from general neck and shoulder stiffness, a dull ache to more debilitating symptoms including referred pain into the arms or even headaches.

With our team of Osteopaths and Physiotherapists, we have a huge amount of experience in the treatment of neck pain.

A thorough subjective and objective examination and will be taken prior to commencing treatment in order to have a correct diagnosis. We will always refer you to your G.P if we feel it is necessary for further investigations or a second opinion.

Understanding your Neck

To have a greater understanding of neck pain, it is important to visualise the typical structures present within the neck. This providers with a huge amount of information enabling us to identify what is causing the neck. The neck consists of seven vertebrae. Functionally the neck can be divided into two areas. The upper complex consisting of the occiput, atlas and the axis (C0- C2) and the lower complex consisting of (C3 to C7).
The upper complex predominantly allows flexion and extension at C0 and C1 and rotation at C1 C2. The lower complex C3 to C7 all permit flexion and extension and rotation but to a smaller degree.

Between the cervical vertebrae exists two facet joints and the vertebral disc. The facet joints are much like hinges that link the joints together. These are bound by capsules providing support and stability.

There are numerous muscle to the neck providing functional movements in summary these include:

Flexors : longus colli & capitis, infra hyoids
Extensors: splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis, suboccipitals, trapezius
Rotators: splenius capitis, sternocleidomastoid, levator scapula, suboccipitals
Lateral Flexors: scalenes

These muscles can work together producing combined movements.

What causes Neck Pain?

What causes Neck Pain

Neck pain can be caused by many factors depending on the age and medical history of the patient. One of the most common causes of neck pain is improper posture. Sitting at a desk, in front of the computer, or driving – one tends to slump forward and notice only when it gets achy or uncomfortable. When in slumped position, not only the lower back is suffering, and the organs are being compressed, but the neck and head shift forwards. This in turn, requires the muscles on the back of the head and neck to tense up to keep the head upright. Chronic tension in these muscles can cause pain itself, but furthermore, the shortening of the muscles compresses the joints in the neck, which can cause inflammation. This in turn can cause much of a discomfort in the neck itself and refer pain to the shoulders. When the neck has been exposed to these processes for many years, at some point wear and tear occurs. This can cause stiffness, pain and limited range of movement. Furthermore, narrowing of the spinal canal can cause irritation of the nerves supplying the arm and hand, causing weakness and pins and needles.

Another common cause of neck pain is a bulged or herniated disk. This can be caused by sudden or repetitive injuries or repetitive loading of some of the more mobile vertebrae. This is often associated with local inflammation and a lot of discomfort in the neck. In most of the cases this also causes irritation of the nerves passing nearby and thus- pain, weakness and pins and needles in the hands or arms.

Pain in the neck can be also caused by something not so related – as, for example, pelvic torsion. If there is a rotation of the pelvis, due to some reason, the body automatically rotates the neck in the other way, so the head can stay in a central position and the eyes levelled. Thus massage or treating the neck, can only help this pain so much. Until the real cause is addressed the complaint will come back.

How can we help?

Osteopathy can help find the underlying reasons for neck pain and address them. Osteopaths look at the posture as a whole, so don’t be surprised if they get to treat your back or legs, if you are having neck pain. With treatment, the tensed and shortened muscles get to relax, the compressed joints gain more space and inflammation reduces. If some joints are chronically overstrained, it means that some other joints in the area are not moving enough. The osteopath can help mobilize these joints, so the demand on the rest can be lowered and the pain can subside, whether it is coming from a disc bulge, wear and tear or another reason.

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Meet the practitioners

Anna Nikova M.Ost Osteopath
BSc (Hons) Osteopathy, Acupuncture MBAcC