Neck pain is a common injury. The good news is that if you treat it early, it usually gets better quickly. During the acute phase, moving your neck is a good thing, so gently rotating your neck from side to side several times every hour throughout the day will help reduce your pain and keep your neck from getting too stiff. One of the worst things you can do is stay in bed and not move. It might hurt initially to get up and get moving, but lying in bed can make your neck stiff, which is why your neck pain may be worst when you first wake up. Give yourself a little extra time in the morning, but get up and get moving. This will actually help with the pain.

If you are still in pain after about 3 days, let your physical therapist or doctor know. It’s probably not anything serious, but they may want to do a simple physical exam to make sure. It’s important to start physical therapy right away because the longer you have pain the more likely it is to stick around.  Physical therapy treatment may include manual therapy, and/or certain exercises to improve your neck motion and strength. Physical therapists can help you learn how to deal with daily activities that irritate your neck. They can also talk to you about what you can do so activities, such as picking up your kids or driving, are less likely to cause neck pain.

Most importantly, seeking treatment for neck pain keeps it from becoming chronic, which is pain that doesn’t go away or keeps coming back. Your muscles like to move so that they do not become weak or stiff.  Activities such as walking, swimming, using an exercise bike, or just completing your daily activities can help.

Common Neck Problems

• Whiplash
• Neck strain/sprain
• Neck Tension/Tightness
• Pinched nerve/radiculitis
• Headaches
• Joint Dysfunction
• TMJ

If you have pain or limitation in your neck, we can help! Call Westwood Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.