No matter how you ended up with a sore neck – sleeping awkwardly, poor technique at the gym, even star-gazing for too long! – once you have it, you want it gone. Chiropractic adjustments are intended to get you out of this kind of pain so you can go back to living life.
But just how do chiropractic adjustments help your sore neck?
It’s a good question. Chiropractic comes from the Greek meaning “hand” and “action.” Spinal manipulation is the well-known calling card of most chiropractors. Techniques vary, but the general practice is a high-velocity, low amplitude movement that is applied to specific vertebrae in the spine to achieve a few different goals.
- First, it restores mobility to the area suffering from restricted movement.
- Second, it stimulates sensory receptors for a muscle relaxing reflex effect.
- And third, it can have a positive impact on surrounding nervous systems that can in turn affect things like the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
When it comes to your sore neck, chiropractors have many manual therapies to bring relief. And don’t make the mistake of assuming that it all amounts to “cracking your neck.” There are many non-thrust techniques, which means no “crack” at all.
You may hear a chiropractor discuss “mobilization,” especially in regard to these non-thrust methods. In most instances, mobilization involves both manual traction, or gentle pulling of the neck, and gliding movements from front to back and left to right. Depending upon a patient’s needs and condition, Dr. McSweeney may also incorporate trigger point therapy, which means she applies pressure to tight knots in the muscles.
If you’re experiencing neck pain and it’s sore enough that it’s impacting your day-to-day life, a chiropractic adjustment could be a very effective treatment. Learn more about what you can expect at your first visit with Dr. McSweeney and book your appointment now.