When neck pain hangs around too long..

Neck pain is a very common complaint amongst our adult population. Acute neck pain can result from poor posture, sleeping positions, excessive device use or whiplash from a fall or car accident. More often than not, postural adjustments, appropriate exercises and a few treatments to address tight muscles or joints will get you back on track here. But what if your pain doesn’t settle?

This usually indicates there are other, often pre-existing, factors at play, and the problem likely extends further than your neck.

The joints and soft tissue structures of the neck form part of a complex musculoskeletal system which incorporates the upper back, rib cage and shoulder girdle. In order for the joints of the neck to move effectively, the upper back and rib joints must also be moving well. In addition, tight muscles in the upper back, shoulder girdle and thorax will often be directly connected to joints in the neck, further limiting their mobility. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a patient’s neck pain to be improved by working on tight structures in the adjacent regions without even touching any neck joints. It’s worth noting too, that the rib cage extends all the way to the base of the neck

Other common contributing factors are jaw clenching and poor breathing pattern, both topics in themselves for another article!

A thorough assessment for neck pain should always include a check of the rib cage, thoracic spine and shoulder girdle, as well as the breath.