The neck is also known as the cervical spine
and forms a major part of the skeletal system of the body and thus the spine.
The neck starts at the base of the skull and contains many small bones or
vertebrae. The cervical spine handles the weight of the head which is about 12
pounds and therefore it is essential that the neck health be maintained.
The cervical spine or the neck has the ability
to move the head in any direction and therefore is susceptible to several
injuries and also pain. The susceptibility of the neck to injuries and pains is
due to biomechanics to a certain extent. The cervical biomechanics are affected
by several types of movements, events and activities like sitting, repetitive
movement, accidents, falls and blows.
Neck pain is very bothersome and can be tough
to handle. Neck pain also needs to be treated in the right manner and at the
right time so that it does not develop into something more serious and
problematic. The following are the most common causes of neck pain:
·
Injuries
and accidents: Injuries and accidents are the most common causes of neck pain.
An injury in the neck can occur because of a whiplash. A whiplash happens when the
head or the neck moves in any direction suddenly causing the surrounding and
supporting tissues and muscles of the neck to be injured. The neck muscles
contract and relax and this may result in muscle fatigue which may lead to
stiffness and pain in the neck. Neck pain can also occur when the ligaments, discs,
nerve roots and muscles of the neck are injured.
·
Degenerative
disorders: As the body gets older, it become more susceptible to wear and tear.
There are many degenerative problems that can lead to neck pain. Osteoarthritis
is a degenerative problem that causes progressive deterioration of the
cartilages of the neck. Spinal stenosis causes the spinal passageway to narrow
down causing the root nerves to compress. Stenosis causes neck pain, shoulder
pain and also numbness because the muscles are not able to function in the
right manner.
· Lifestyle:
A poor and unhealthy lifestyle can also lead to neck pain. Poor posture,
obesity, weak abdominal muscles as well as a poor diet can all lead to problems
in the cervical spine causing neck pain. Stress and emotional tension can also
lead to muscles of the neck getting stiff and numb leading to neck pain. Neck
pain because of poor posture needs to be treated immediately else it can lead
to chronic neck pain that can further lead to several other health issues.
Mission Viejo Chiropractic aims at helping
people deal with spine problems. We offer non-surgical treatments for spinal
problems like back pain, neck pain, stenosis and degenerative disc disease. We
work to find the root cause of the spinal problem and treat it completely.
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