Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common problem. As the neck is a complicated structure, neck pain may result from muscular, skeletal, airway, digestive, cardiac or nerve problems. Pathology in the neck can also create chronic headaches. Once a serious cause of neck pain is eliminated as a possibility, more common problems can be addressed. These include:- Muscular tightness and neck muscle strain is one of the most common causes of neck pain.
- Prolonged postures such as chair sitting and couch lying may create strain in the neck.
- Jaw clenching and teeth grinding can be felt as chronic neck tightness.
- Arthritis involves degenerative changes in the spine creating inflammation in the neck.
- Spinal stenosis involves degenerative changes within the spinal canal whereby neck movements create pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, arms or hands.
- Spinal disc disease includes degenerative changes in the discs of the neck which may affect the nerves of the neck, shoulder, and arms.
For relief from neck pain understand that:
- Neck pain is not prevented by stretching or strengthening the muscles of the neck.
- The stability and integration of the neck protects your neck from harm.
- Therapy for stability is quite different from strength training and stretching.
A Feldenkrais approach to neck pain treatment begins with a thorough evaluation of your neck and considers:
- The stability of the neck is dependent on a properly functioning spinal core.
- The spinal core is a complicated series of discs and vertebrae, each with a slightly different function.
- Faulty interactions between vertebrae create excessive strain in the neck and/or referred pain into the head and arms.
- Optimizing interactions between vertebrae stabilizes the neck, providing neck pain relief.
Neck pain relief results from improving key relationships within the spine, and optimizing the function of the neck as it relates to the rest of the body. You will receive therapy that involves the whole body, including Feldenkrais exercises. The goals are to relieve pain and prevent your neck from being injured again. At the Feldenkrais Center, our unique approach to treating the cause of your neck pain allows for fast, effective and usually permanent relief from discomfort.
Are you looking for immediate relief? Try this simple, effective Feldenkrais exercise:
