HEP: Neck Stiffness
Patient Education
What’s going on?
Sometimes your neck can’t move as well as it should, this can make it hard to look up or around. It can be caused by bad postures, repetitive movements or sometimes just again. Trauma or unusual movements may also cause stiffness.
How long will it take?
Depending on the chronicity and severity of the problem, it may take 6 to 12 visits over 6 weeks for the condition to resolve. There is research that suggests that physical therapy can help improve this problem significantly.
How will we treat your condition at IHSM?
At IHSM, a doctor of physical therapy will perform a detailed physical examination to assess your neck movements and will determine which muscles need to be stronger and which need to be more flexible.
Based on the findings, your therapist will design a specific treatment plan to ensure an optimal recovery.
You will also be given exercises to do on your own to help restore the mobility of the stiff joint.
Your physical therapist will give helpful suggestions to avoid the aggravating positions, movements or postures that increase your neck pain.
This will include tips on how to set up an ergonomic workspace.
Modalities such as acupuncture, or electrical stimulation may also be used to decrease inflammation and control the pain in your neck.
What can you do to help yourself?
It is crucial to pay attention to your posture. Try to maintain your ears line up over your shoulders and your shoulders lined up with your hips. This will assist in keeping your spine in a neutral position, which will relieve the stress of gravity on your neck muscles.
In the acute phases of the injury, avoid positions/movements of the neck that aggravate the symptoms particularly end of range bending or rotation to the painful side.
You will likely be given exercises initially in the opposite direction to your painful movements. Eventually, you will be given exercises to restore the painful and limited movements.
If any of the stretches or exercises aggravate your symptoms, let your physical therapist know so they can adjust your home exercise program.
Instructions:
You may do all of these exercises right away but avoid any movements that increase your pain.
About IHSM
Integrative Health and Sports Medicine, LLC is a one-stop health and wellness center. Our mission is to restore our patients to a healthy, pain-free, and productive life. By combining orthopedic physical therapy techniques, sports medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine, we are able to treat conditions and achieve results in cases that have not responded well to modern Western medicine.
We are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Please email us at info@integrativesports.com to schedule a consultation and let us help you on your journey to optimal health.
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