Cervicalgia is a general term that is used to describe neck pain. The pain and discomfort that you can experience with cervicalgia may be caused by joint restrictions and muscular tightness, but there are also other causes. These include degenerative disc disease, whiplash, a herniated disc, pinched nerves, poor sleeping positions, and posture issues.
Symptoms associated with cervicalgia include persistent neck pain that can be accompanied by spasms in the neck muscles, impaired neck movement, headaches, dizziness, numbness, and nausea.
What Causes Cervicalgia?
As mentioned above, there are quite a few reasons for cervicalgia occurring. Some of the most common include:
- Poor posture for extended periods of time with your neck at an awkward angle
- Injuries that involve a sudden neck movement. This can happen from impact sports or a car accident (whiplash)
- If you have a bone condition such as arthritis or osteoporosis
- You suffer from a disease or a condition that affects the spine such as spinal infections or meningitis
- Long-term stress that causes clenching of neck and shoulder muscles
Physical Therapy as A Treatment for Cervicalgia
Once the true cause of the cervicalgia has been found, physical therapy can help to relieve the symptoms and alleviate the cause of the pain. Research has shown that physical therapy is a better treatment than surgery or pain medication for relieving many cases of neck pain. In fact, it can often help people avoid the need for surgery or pain relievers altogether.
The goals of physical therapy for neck pain include:
- Reducing pain and stiffness
- Improving the range of motion
- Improving posture
- Strengthening the neck and its supporting musculature
- Developing strategies to prevent neck pain from recurring
Schedule an Appointment to Relieve Your Neck Pain
If you are experiencing neck pain, schedule an appointment with a physical therapist at Elite Integrated Therapy Centers today. We have multiple locations throughout Greenville, Anderson, and Spartanburg, SC, and provide numerous physical therapy services.
