Exploring the Causes of Head and Neck Pain
Are you dealing with head or neck pain? Whether it’s a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing sensation, this discomfort can make it hard to focus on work, enjoy your favorite hobbies, or just live your life. Fortunately, resolving these issues is fairly straightforward, and it starts with understanding the causes of head and neck pain.
Why? Because successfully resolving head or neck pain–as opposed to just masking the symptoms–requires addressing the underlying reason for the discomfort. And that’s something the team at TOP Physical Therapy can help you accomplish!
Our knowledgeable physical therapists will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs. These plans often include exercises, manual therapy, and lifestyle changes designed to reduce pain and prevent future issues.
Today, we want to explore some of the common causes of head and neck pain–and provide some information about what our Southfield, MI, and Sterling Heights, MI physical therapists can do to help. Keep reading to learn more!
Four Common Causes of Neck Pain
Poor Posture
- Poor posture is one of the most common sources of neck pain, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk. When you slouch or hunch over your computer, you put extra strain on your neck muscles and cervical spine, leading to muscle fatigue, stiffness, and persistent pain over time.
Neck Strains and Sprains
- Neck strains occur when you damage the muscles or tendons in your neck, usually from overuse or awkward postures (such as sleeping in an unusual position). Neck sprains occur when you damage the ligaments in your neck. They often develop due to whiplash, a rapid back-and-forth movement common in car accidents and sports injuries.
Degenerative Disc Disease
- Degenerative disc disease refers to an age-related degeneration in the intervertebral discs in your cervical spine. It’s a normal process, but it does make you more susceptible to neck injuries and herniated discs, both of which can cause pain.
Cervical Spondylosis
- This is the medical term for osteoarthritis that develops in the neck joint. It occurs when the cartilage in the cervical spine degenerates and becomes inflamed. In addition to pain, symptoms include stiffness and reduced mobility.
Three Common Causes of Head Pain
Tension Headaches
- As the name suggests, tension headaches often result from muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, which can be exacerbated by stress or poor posture. When the muscles in your neck and shoulders are tight or knotted, they can compress nerves and blood vessels, leading to pain that often feels like a band tightening around your head.
Cervicogenic Headaches
- Cervicogenic headaches originate from issues in the cervical spine, causing pain that radiates up into the head. These headaches are often due to neck injuries, poor posture, or degenerative changes.
TMJ Dysfunction
- TMJ dysfunction involves problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your jaw to your skull. It can cause pain in your jaw, face, and neck, as well as headaches and difficulty chewing. It can stem from various causes, including jaw misalignment, teeth grinding, or arthritis.
Addressing the Causes of Head and Neck Pain For Lasting Relief
We hope this overview of the causes of head and neck pain gives you some insight into your own discomfort. Of course, identifying the source of pain is only the first step. Once the TOP Physical Therapy physical therapists understand why you’re in pain, they’ll create a personalized treatment plan to attack your discomfort at its root.
Hands-on manual therapy techniques, targeted exercises, and simply ergonomic adjustments are tool we have in our arsenal. We’ll address your symptoms and help you find the right strategies and approaches for long-term relief.
Ready to get started? Schedule an appointment at our Southfield, MI, and Sterling Heights, MI clinics today!