Neck & Shoulder Pain

Many people carry stress and tension in their neck and shoulders which can cause the muscles to tense up.

Symptoms of Neck and Shoulder Pain

Stress and tension in the neck and shoulder can result in pain, discomfort, stiffness, loss of movement, muscle spasms, headaches and sometimes arm, hand and finger pain / tingling (known as referred pain).

Pain in these areas is usually a result of injury to the soft tissues – the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Neck pain, and sometimes shoulder pain, can also be caused when the neck joints become irritated and inflamed.

Causes of Neck and Shoulder Pain

Neck pain is commonly caused by bad posture. You can strain your neck through bad posture when sitting at your desk, driving the car, watching the television or by sleeping in a poor position.

Sometimes injuries to other parts of the body, which have not healed correctly, can cause pain in your neck and shoulders. This is because the body adjusts its posture to compensate for the injury.

There are also a number of medical conditions which can cause neck and shoulder pain including Spondylosis, Herniated Disks, Osteoporosis and Arthritis.

How can Osteopathy help?

Osteopathy is recognised by the NHS and NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as an effective treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain. Treatment is different for every patient but may include techniques such as different types of soft tissue massage and joint articulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help relieve pain and mobilise your joints.

At Active Healthcare Clinic, we will spend time trying to understand your problem and putting together a neck and shoulder pain treatment plan for you. We may also provide you with advice on neck and shoulder exercises that you can do at home (where appropriate) to ease your neck and shoulder pain symptoms.