“Text Neck” Pain

The most common cause of neck pain is muscle strain, due to poor posture while sitting at your computer, slouching while watching TV and looking down at your electronic device (smart phones/ipad/laptop etc). There is a real name for this “Text Neck”.

The New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitative Medicine Center did a study on the issue of poor posture and how it affects you, especially when you’re on a cell phone or smart device. When your spine is in neutral position, the head weighs about 10-12 pounds, that is a 15 degrees [forward], the neck sees 27 pounds. At 45 degrees, it sees 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees, it’s 60 pounds. that is an incredible amount of load, an amazing amount of weight to be carrying around your neck.

That 60 pounds of weight stress on muscles and nerves that are meant to handle 10-12 pounds of stress, and that much load can do a lot of damage over time!

Do You Have “Text Neck” Pain Symptoms?

Neck pain is commonly associated with a dull ache, but can be associated with some form of numbness, tingling, and sharp shoot pain. Neck pain can be centralized in the neck or refer down the arm and/or shoulder blade. Neck pain can also be a source of headaches. Neck pain can limit the movement of the neck making it difficult to turn your head or look up and down. Our Physical Therapy Dr’s Can help you relieve your neck pain and restore movement.

treating the neck at N-Balance Physical Therapy

treating neck pain at N-Balance Physical Therapy

What Exactly Can A Physical or Occupations Therapist Do for My Neck Pain?

Physical & Occupational therapy includes both passive and active treatments. Passive treatments help to relax you and your body. They also prepare your body for therapeutic exercise, which is the active part of physical therapy. In the active part of therapy, your therapist will teach you various exercises & functional movement to work on your flexibility, strength, stability, and range of motion (how easily your joints move). Your therapy program @ Kauai Therapy & Wellness is individualized, taking into consideration your health and history. Your exercises may not be suitable for another person with neck pain. physical therapist may give you treatments such as:

Deep tissue massage: This technique targets chronic muscle tension—tension in your neck that perhaps builds up through daily life stress. The therapist uses direct pressure and friction to try to release the tension in your soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles).
Dry Needling: The needle relaxes the tight muscle bands associated with trigger points. As a result, dry needling may be helpful in decreasing pain and increasing motion for patients with neck pain. *Only available at Idaho Location.
Cupping: The cups applied to the neck musculature create suction, which increases circulation & alleviate muscle tension.

Hot and cold therapies: By using heat, the physical therapist seeks to get more blood to the target area because an increased blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients to that area. Blood is also needed to remove waste byproducts created by muscle spasms, and it also helps healing. Cold therapy slows circulation, helping to reduce inflammation, muscle spasms, and pain. Your physical therapist will alternate between hot and cold therapies.
Dolphin Estim or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS ): You could even use this at home, if your therapist thinks it’s necessary. A machine stimulates your muscles through variable (but safe) intensities of electrical current. TENS helps reduce muscle spasms, and it may increase your body’s production of endorphins, your natural painkillers. The TENS equipment your physical therapist uses is larger than the “at -home” use machine. However, whether large or small, a TENS unit can be a helpful therapy.
830 Cold Laser: The 830Laser sends light (photons) into your injured tissues and can penetrate 2 inches without being absorbed by the skin, fat, or blood. No heat is generated so it is safe for use anywhere* on the body. Once the photons find the injured tissues, they stimulate and energize the cells to repair and strengthen at a remarkably fast rate. This treatment does NOT wear off like most medicines
Traction: In traction, the therapist will try to stretch and mobilize your spine so that you feel less pain and can move more easily. He or she can do this manually—the hands-on approach—or by using a mechanical traction device.
BioQPulse : This revolutionary device sends low-level electromagnetic pulses to stimulate reflex and pressure points in your body and penetrates deep into your muscles, nerves, and joints. This helps to increase blood flow, boost energy production (ATP), and normalize painful nerves. Kauai Therapy & Wellness is the only clinic on Kauai to have this device.
Ultrasound: By increasing blood circulation, an ultrasound helps reduce muscle spasms, cramping, swelling, stiffness, and pain. It does this by sending sound waves deep into your muscle tissues, creating a gentle heat that enhances circulation and healing.
Yoga/Martial Arts Therapy: Here at Kauai Therapy & Wellness, our therapists are not only Licensed Therapists, but also Yoga & Pilates Multifunctional Movement Certified. This means we can address Physical & Occupational Therapy in a way that encompasses the entire body into recovery using specialized yoga & physical therapy techniques.