Mild neck pain
Mild neck pain is often discomfort that comes on gradually throughout the day. The pain can be felt in a small concentrated point, or in the entire neck. The neck pain is not associated with tension headaches, arm/hand pain and there is usually no impaired movement. With this type of neck pain, the muscles and tendons in the neck are often involved. This type of neck pain often goes away on its own with a little rest, some light stretching exercises or a workout. Most people do not usually seek help for this type of neck pain.
Elaborating on the neck
The neck's movements consist of a complex interaction between joints, sensitive deep muscles and large parts of the nervous system. We are completely dependent on good neck function to maintain balance, perform precise movements and orient ourselves according to sensory impressions from sight and hearing. If there is an imbalance in one of these systems, this interaction is negatively affected, resulting in pain and discomfort in the neck. Our neck is highly mobile and is therefore particularly susceptible to pain after acute injuries such as whiplash, a stroke or a fall. Overexertion of muscles and joints from unilateral strain over time can cause chronic and persistent pain in the neck region. These are typical causes of stress neck or tension. X-rays or MRIs can show wear and tear, degenerative changes or prolapse that negatively affect neck function. The neck can also be the cause of a number of symptoms such as headaches, migraines, dizziness and symptoms in the arms.
Specific joint correction seeks to restore normal function in the musculoskeletal system and nervous system.
Whiplash
Whiplash, or whiplash, is often related to a high-energy acceleration movement that ends in an abrupt stop. This type of movement can often result in structural changes in the neck that can cause long-term complications such as prolapse, fractures, tears in muscles or ligaments. Therefore, it is common to have an MRI, CT or X-ray examination after such an injury. A problem with whiplash is when these images do not show any structural changes and the patient still has whiplash symptoms. These patients are often not taken seriously.
Recent research points to the link between whiplash and concussions. Like whiplash, concussions are often the result of a high-energy acceleration movement that ends in a sudden stop. The anatomy of the brain shows that it is not attached to our skull, but floats in a fluid (cerebral spinal fluid). This makes the brain highly susceptible to impact and acceleration movement that ends in an abrupt stop. With this understanding of the brain's anatomy, it is virtually impossible to get whiplash without some form of concussion.
Below you can see a comparison of symptoms after whiplash and concussion.
Whiplash symptoms:
- Neck stiffness
- Headache
- Pain in the shoulder or between the shoulder blades
- Pain in the lower back
- Difficulty concentrating and irritability
- Dizziness, ringing in the ears, or visual disturbances.
Concussion symptoms:
- Somatic (e.g. headache), cognitive (e.g. feeling like in a fog) and/or emotional symptoms (e.g. lability)
- Physical signs (e.g. loss of consciousness, memory loss, neurological deficit)
- Impaired balance (e.g. unsteady walking)
- Behavioral changes (e.g. irritability)
- Cognitive impairment (e.g. reduced reaction times)
- Disturbances in sleep/wakefulness (e.g. sleepiness, drowsiness)
- DizzinessÂ
- Impaired eye motor function (e.g. visual disturbances)
- Neck stiffness
Eye motor function and neck
Due to the complexity of the neck, there are many areas that can affect neck mobility and pain. Different eye movements tighten specific muscles in the neck. Moving the eyes to the left increases muscle tone on the right side of the neck and moving the eyes to the right increases muscle tone on the left side. The Vestibular Ocular Reflex (VOR) and the Cervical Ocular Reflex (COR) are important tests for understanding problem areas in the neck. These two reflexes can give us an insight into how the inner ear and eye motor function affect the neck.