ARE YOU SUFFERING WITH NECK PAIN?
The neck is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body and neck pain is a common ailment in our modern lives. If you suffer from recurring or chronic neck pain, there’s no need to accept the problem as something you’ll just have to live with. Contact the team of chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, sports massage and massage therapists at The Health Hub and let us work with you to treat your neck pain at the source.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF NECK PAIN?
The neck is a complex structure that forms part of the spine, running down from the base of the skull to the top of the shoulders in a series of 7 cervical vertebrae, whose job is to:
- Protect the spinal cord and communication with the brain
- Allow blood flow to the brain
- Support the head and its movement
The neck is vulnerable to the stresses and strains of everyday activity and pain can be caused by general wear and tear as well as specific injury, stress or trauma. Age, injury, poor posture or diseases such as arthritis can lead to degeneration of the bones or joints in the cervical spine. There are a number of other neck injuries that can cause pain such as disc herniation, whiplash, fractures etc.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF NECK PAIN?
Neck pain often starts suddenly and generally goes away within a few days. However, if it doesn’t get better, you may need treatment. Neck injury symptoms include a stiff neck, shoulder or arm, headache, facial pain and dizziness.
Broadly, we distinguish between three different types of neck pain:
- Simple neck pain, caused by poor posture, stress or sleeping awkwardly, which strains your neck muscles and ligaments. Neck pain may also be caused by wear and tear of the bones and discs in your neck.
- Neck pain with nerve involvement, this ill often result in symptoms into your shoulder or arm and occurs when a nerve is pinched. You may also feel numbness or weakness in the arm, or tingling in the fingers or hand.
- Whiplash injuries are common after car accidents and sports injuries where your head is suddenly jolted backwards and forwards, making the neck muscles and ligaments stretch beyond their normal range, causing a sprain.
Whichever type of neck pain you are suffering from, it is important to receive a skilled assessment and diagnosis from an experienced chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist. At The Health Hub, our skilled therapist team use a range of therapeutic tools and tests to diagnose the problem and suggest the best treatment options for you.
HOW TO EASE NECK PAIN
Neck pain can be a painful and complex condition, but luckily medical treatment or intervention isn’t always necessary. There are many things you can do at home to alleviate the symptoms of a stiff or painful neck.
- Gentle exercises for natural neck pain relief: Speak to our physical therapists who can devise an individualised programme of safe yet effective exercises for neck pain that you can do on a regular basis.
- Ice, heat and over-the-counter painkillers: Apply an ice pack to reduce pain, then a heat pack to relieve joint stiffness and muscle spasms. Ask your pharmacist about the most effective anti-inflammatory painkillers.
- Proper pillow and mattress support: Adjust your sleeping position to take the strain off your neck. Make sure your head is the same height as the rest of your body, with a firm mattress and a low, firm pillow. Don’t sleep on your front.
- Active rest: Avoid activities that can aggravate your neck pain but try to stay active and continue with your usual daily activities if you can. Don’t keep your neck in the same position for a long time, e.g. when sitting at a desk.
Why choose The Health Hub?
The Health Hub is a team of experienced physical therapists providing physiotherapy, chiropractic care, osteopathy, sports massage, massage therapy, Pilates and more. We believe that a holistic approach to health gives us the best choice of tools and techniques to assess, diagnose and treat your neck pain. We have extensive professional expertise and can offer the complete package to keep you fit and healthy.
- Osteopathy for neck pain – Osteopaths take a holistic approach to the health of the body, aiming to make sure that your muscles and joints are functioning together in a balanced and harmonious way. Our therapists focus on manual techniques, such as mobilisation or manipulation, massage and trigger point therapy all of which are designed to get your body back to a state of balance.
- Chiropractic care for neck pain – Chiropractors have a special interest in neck and back pain, taking a holistic approach to see how problems with the muscles and joints affect the nervous system. Our therapists will focus on restoring the normal range of motion for you neck using similar techniques to our osteopaths, including mobilisation, manipulation, massage and other specialist techniques to achieve the best results.
- Physiotherapy for neck pain – Physiotherapy is a tried and tested form of treatment for neck pain, using hands on techniques such as mobilisation, massage and acupuncture to alleviate pain. Our therapists will also focus on restoring movement and function as part of a wider rehabilitation programme where necessary.
- Massage for neck pain – Gentle manual therapies, massage and sports massage can be carried out in many different ways to help with neck pain relief and rehabilitation. Our therapists have a wealth of experience in treating all kinds of neck pain and associated conditions. If they feel that you would be better off with one of our Chiropractors, Osteopaths or Physiotherapists they will always refer you to ensure you get the best possible care.
Thanks to our holistic combined approach to therapy packages, we have been able to achieve some truly transformative results for our patients that you can read here.
Get in touch with The Health Hub today for more information or to book an appointment.
The Health Hub offers holistic physical therapy options & individual treatment programmes for neck pain for effective pain relief & rehabilitation. Call for details.
Therapies
Physiotherapy
Our team of physiotherapists – Jodie Pargeter, Elise Rawson and Kirk Proto provide treatment for a huge variety of physical ailments. Jodie previously worked at The Heeler Centre in Hassocks before launching The Health Hub with her husband Sam. Our team of physiotherapists each have differing skillsets that allows us to find the right physiotherapist for you. These include physio for general injuries, pre and post operative physio, women’s health physio, neuro physio, sports physio, acupuncture and pilates.
Chiropractic
Our chiropractor Sam Pargeter has been practicing in the local area for over 12 years, having previously worked and managed The Heeler Centre in Hassocks before launching The Health Hub. Sam is forever wanting to expand his skillset as you will see from his further qualifications. This enables him to offer you the best treatment possible.
Osteopathy
Our osteopath Lachlan Beveridge is hugely experienced having worked locally for over 20 years. Lachlan previously worked with Sam and Jodie at The Heeler Centre in Hassocks before joining them in their new venture The Health Hub. Lachlan particularly enjoys working with patients who are suffering from headaches, neck pain and lower back pain.