Do you have pain in your neck and shoulders? Do you commonly experience headaches?  These symptoms affect nearly 75 percent of American adults at some point in their lives.  A brief evaluation of anatomical design sheds light on such a fragile condition.  The head is perched atop the neck like a bowling ball stacked atop a column of lego blocks.  This unique structure allows for maximum mobility, yet increases susceptibility to muscle and ligament damage.  This damage occurs readily through slip and falls and motor vehicle collisions, as well as from everyday work and social activities.  

Newton’s first law states, an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an outside force.  Imagine what would happen if you placed a bowling ball on a stack of lego blocks and surrounded the structure with a foam pad representing ligament muscle and skin.  Accelerate that structure, fastened to a skate board, then abruptly stop the skate board.  What you will experience is the bowling ball continuing forward after the skateboard is stopped, just as Newton’s law predicts.  This continued motion significantly tears the foam pad and results in displaced blocks.  Research shows that significant soft tissue damage, resulting from this scenario, is evident in human subjects involved in motor vehicle collisions as low as 3 mph.  Whether you have been rear-ended or involved in a minor fender-bender science says ligament and soft tissue damage is imminent.  This soft-tissue damage must be properly evaluated and treated.  Seeking appropriate care following an accident will prevent the development of early spinal arthritis and degeneration, fibromyalgia and instability of joints of the spine.  Proper treatment early will lessen and prevent an imminent pain in the neck.  Many people choose not to seek proper care, and suffer with the symptoms because they fear their premiums will be raised or they will be unable to afford the medical bills.  Most people are unaware their auto insurance carries a state mandated minimum of $3,000.00 worth of personal injury protection (PIP) in case of a collision.  It is worth spending a few extra dollars a month to secure a $10,000.00 PIP thereby allowing proper care and recovery following a motor vehicle collision.

Motor Vehicle Collisions are not the only source of neck pain.  Many repetitive and prolonged activities we perform everyday are responsible for chronic and even debilitating neck pain.  It is important that the bowling ball rest appropriately atop the blocks.  When it is turned or tilted while watching TV, reading a book, or talking on the phone the constant weight bears down on the tissues of the neck causing micro traumas.  To repair these traumas the body produces inflammatory chemicals that cover the injured tissue and, just like a scab on the exterior, cause local swelling.  This inflammatory response leaves a fibrous weave of tissue that prevents the muscles from working synergistically as before.  Instead, when the affected muscles are activated pain occurs from the tissue tearing along the borders of the previous injury.

Most minor neck pain will resolve within a day or two.  Neck pain that won’t go away, keeps coming back, or is combined with HA or arm pain can signal a more serious condition.  These may include: joint restrictions, whiplash, osteoarthritis, meningitis and tumor, congenital malformation, and degeneration.  These will require more than just rest before symptoms are alleviated.  A trained healthcare professional such as a doctor of chiropractic is best equipped to evaluate you for joint restrictions and soft-tissue disorders.  He will determine whether the cause of your pain is minor and easily treatable or more serious, requiring more extended treatment.  He may then prescribe chiropractic manipulative therapy, physiotherapy, massage, anti-inflammatory herbs or supplements, and strengthening or stretching exercises.  When needed your chiropractor will refer you to a specialist.

The most important question is how to avoid injury in the first place.  In cases of motor-vehicle collisions, neck injury may be lessened with properly adjusted headrests.  Headrests should be positioned so the top of the headrest is at least level with the top of the eyes.  If you are involved in an accident where your car is hit from the rear, the seatback is first thrust into your back.  This slightly elevates the actual height of your head, which is attempting to remain motionless as the vehicle moves under it.  If the lift received from initial impact places the head in a position higher than the headrest, the headrest acts as a fulcrum for the neck and further complicates soft tissue damage.  If, however, the headrest is appropriately positioned, it will compensate for initial impact lift and collide with the head preventing it from continuing rearward thereby minimizing the extent of soft-tissue damage. 

In more minor and less obvious cases of neck pain it is most important to take note of everyday posture.  Ears should be in line with shoulders, hips, knees and ankles.  Stand near a mirror, or have a friend see if you line up as you should.  Variation from this is indicative of improper posture and sets the stage for joint and muscle pain.  If your job requires phone use, consider using a headset or hands free device.  Beware of slouching, and of standing too erect (remember the sideline ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles).  Avoid putting books or magazines on tables that force the head out away from the stability of the neck.  Instead, consider holding or using a book stand so the material is held at eye level.  If you work in front of a computer monitor make sure it allows the head to be held in neutral position for viewing, the head shouldn’t be required to either tilt forward or back when viewing the monitor.

If you have a pain in the neck, seek evaluation from a trained healthcare specialist for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.  Chiropractors specialize in the neuromusculoskeletal system, and are the most well-trained health care professionals to consult about neck pain.