Neck and Back Pain by Amberlea Physiotherapy
Neck (and back) pain can be, well, a real pain in the neck! All jokes aside, neck and back pain are frustrating at best, and undeniably debilitating at worst. And with the increased stresses of modern living, they seem to be more and more prevalent.
There are, of course, ways to keep neck and back pain at bay – see our tips below for maintaining optimal spine health, with the associated benefits of a pain-free neck and back:
- Stay flexible. Ensuring spine flexibility in all directions is key to keeping your neck and back pain-free. If your thorax (the area between your neck and the abdomen) has limited flexibility and rotation, more load and stress can be transferred to your lower back and neck. More load and stress leads to more pain.
- Check your posture. No need to walk around with a heavy encyclopedia on your head, circa 1960s-era finishing schools, but imagining a string from the top of your head gently pulling you towards the sky can do wonders for your posture and to reduce potential for neck and back pain.
- Reduce pressure on your spine. You can do this by varying your position throughout the day: if you sit at a computer all day, stand up and walk around every 30 minutes to relieve the pressure and improve blood flow. Or set up a standing workstation and alternate between sitting and standing.
- Keep a strong core. Engage and control your core, the deep spinal muscles, with specially designed exercises. (Note: our physiotherapists can help you with this.)
- Avoid injury. Some injuries cannot be avoided. But others can be kept at bay by reminding yourself of the simple things: the proper way to lift, bend and pick up objects, even if they are not heavy. (Again: our experts can show you proper body mechanics with everyday tasks to avoid easily avoidable neck and back pain.)
Then there are the times when neck or back pain has begun to take over your life, affecting your ability to perform daily activities and, indeed, your ability to live comfortably and happily. Which is where physiotherapy comes in.
When it comes to neck and back pain, physiotherapy is the proven best solution to restore proper movement and provide ongoing relief. With sound knowledge, expertise and experience in body mechanics – movement, strength and coordination of the muscles for optimal health and a pain-free life – Amberlea physiotherapists can help you improve your function and relieve any neck and back pain.
Common Causes of Neck and Back Pain
The most common causes of neck and/or back pain include, but are not limited to:
- Stress – mental stress and undue physical stress (as per below);
- Overuse, strenuous activity, or improper use (heavy lifting, or repetitive lifting)
- Prolonged poor, incorrect or sustained postures;
- Muscular tension, strains or spasm
- Poor muscle tone caused by underuse (deconditioning);
- Minor injuries and falls;
- Motor vehicle accidents;
- Degeneration of vertebrae, often caused by stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support your spine, or the effects of aging;
- Joint problems
- Pinched nerves
- Protruding or herniated (slipped) disk and pinched nerve
- Osteoporosis and compression fractures
- Congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of your vertebrae and bones
- Abdominal problems, such as an aortic aneurysm
Common Symptoms of Neck and Back Pain
Symptoms of back and neck pain include, but are not limited to:
- Dull, burning, or sharp pain in your back, confined to a single spot or covering a large area (back);
- Leg numbness or tingling above or below your knee (back);
- Stiffness or aching that occurs anywhere along your spine – from your neck to your tailbone);
- Sharp, shooting pain that radiates from your lower back, down the back of your thigh, and into your calf and toes (back);
- Consistent ache in the middle or lower part of your back, especially after standing or sitting for an extended period (back);
- Arm numbness or tingling (neck);
- Headaches (neck);
- Shoulder pain (neck);
- Sharp shooting pains or a dull ache in your neck (neck).
Don’t see your particular brand of neck or back pain in the listed causes and symptoms? Our physiotherapists are able to pinpoint exactly where, and why you are suffering from neck or back pain by doing a thorough, customized assessment. No pain is too big, too small, or too difficult for us to reach.
How Physiotherapy Can Help with Your Neck and Back Pain
Our physiotherapists are trained professionals with proven expertise in treating the muscle and skeletal systems of the body.
Whether your pain is from your back, neck, shoulders or legs, by performing a thorough analysis and assessment of your posture, movement, strength and flexibility, we can get to the bottom of it. Once we have assessed your individual case (because no two pains, and no two bodies are the same), we are then able to pinpoint the exact cause of your pain and get down to the task of fixing it!
With each personalized treatment plan, our goal is to relieve you of any current pain, and prevent any future recurrences, or any new neck and back pain. We do this by using some of the following treatment options, methods and techniques:
- Passive physical therapy (no effort required by the patient) to reduce pain and stiffness and improve head and neck range of motion. This may include things like:
- applying ice packs,
- heat therapy,
- massage therapy,
- ultrasound,
- electrotherapy, etc.
- Active physical therapy, which involves patient effort and involvement. Using specifically designed exercises and stretches, we are able to improve strength and flexibility in the neck and back. This, in turn, builds muscles better able to maintain good posture, thus reducing stress on the cervical spine, and ultimately reducing pain. This may include things like:
- Dynamic strengthening and stretching of the neck and its supporting musculature,
- Developing long-term activity strategies to improve flexibility and mobility, increase endurance, and prevent pain from recurring,
- Gait and movement retraining, and
- Designing lifestyle plans and activities to improve neck and back posture and function for daily movement.
Please note: the above list is not exhaustive – we are able to devise key treatments suited to your specific needs which may not be included above. Each treatment plan we design is completely personalized and customized to your particular pain, body and range of motion and flexibility.
Are you suffering from neck or back pain?
Let us give you immediate relief! Whatever the cause of your neck or back pain, and wherever and however it presents itself, our Amberlea physiotherapists can help. We will assess your unique situation and help you with a customized treatment plan to relieve your pain and get you back to living your life. Call Amberlea Physiotherapy on (905) 492-5588 or contact us online today.
Book your FREE 15-minute consultation with our Pickering Physiotherapists now!
Our Services
Physiotherapy
Our Pickering Physiotherapists believe in fixing the root cause of the issue as well as learning about your body in order to create a long sustaining recovery.
Chiropractic
Our chiropractors utilize hands on care for your musculoskeletal system with treatments that target your individual condition and provide spinal adjustments.
Registered Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a unique experience that deals with muscle tension, physical injury, stress, tension headaches, circulatory issues and more.
Acupuncture
Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment method to handle various musculoskeletal injuries.
Sports Injuries
Our physiotherapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists believe in long term sustaining recovery from sports injuries for athletes of all levels.
Custom Orthotics
Amberlea Physiotherapy can help alleviate pain through your feet, ankles, knees and backs through properly fitted custom orthotics.
Custom Bracing
We offer several custom brace options to aid in your recovery including ankle braces, carpal tunnel braces, repetitive injury braces, and more.
Chronic Pain Management
Our professionals follow a multi-disciplinary care approach which may include visits to our physiotherapists, chiropractors, or massage therapists.
Car Accident Rehab
A proper diagnosis and personalized treatment plan between your family doctor and physiotherapist is critical for recovering from a car accident.
Work Related Injuries (WSIB)
Have a workplace injury in Ontario? Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) may be able to help cover the costs of our services
Book your FREE 15-minute consultation with our Pickering Physiotherapists now!
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We are committed to providing the highest quality patient care. We are here to help you achieve your goals by assisting you every step of the way. Let us help you get to where you want to be!
Our Physio Team
Our knowledgeable staff can assist you every step of the way. We believe that knowledge is power to your healing and recovery, and we strive to help you understand what your condition is.
Booking Process
We provide a free 15-minute consultation to aid you in determining the best course of action. Every type of condition is importation to us! Here at Amberlea, we provide same or next day bookings.