Alleviate Persistent Neck Pain With Physical Therapy

Have you ever had one of those days at work or school when your neck just won’t stop bothering you? Or maybe turning your head to check for cars is difficult or painful. Neck pain can really impact your day and make life less enjoyable. Good news! At Goldman Physical Therapy, we’ve got a team that knows just how to help you feel better and give you tips to keep the pain away.

Most of the time, neck pain happens because there’s something wrong with a muscle or joint. Figuring out what the real source is can be difficult, but with the help of our experienced therapists, you can get to the root of your problems, and more importantly, get the solutions you’re looking for. 

Our therapists will use treatments like specific stretches, hands-on techniques, and strength exercises that are tailored for immediate and lasting relief. Our ultimate goal? To help you return to a life you can enjoy to the fullest.

Take action today! Request an appointment and set the wheels in motion for the lasting relief you deserve.

Source of Neck Pain: Causes and Symptoms

Neck pain is a multifaceted condition, and its origins can vary widely from person to person. Whether your discomfort starts from an unfortunate car accident or something that seems insignificant, like maintaining an improper posture while working at your desk, our team can help. 

What may appear to be a minor issue, such as a recurring crick in your neck, could potentially develop into a chronic issue that disrupts your daily life.

For some individuals, the issue lies deeper within the structure of the spine (for example, changes to the discs, the cushions between vertebrae). Disc degeneration can lead to pain and difficulty moving the neck, whereas problems such as bulging or herniated discs can be particularly painful and can even lead to nerve compression. This often results in additional symptoms such as sharp, radiating pain or numbness extending into the shoulders or arms. 

Luckily, our physical therapists are skilled at identifying these contributing factors and formulating an effective treatment plan tailored to alleviate your specific symptoms.

Physical Therapy: Your Pathway to Relief

We’ll start with a comprehensive evaluation, including gathering as much information about your health, previous history of neck pain, and information about your most recent episode. 

Next, we’ll conduct a physical examination, including a hands-on assessment of your neck and upper back muscles. We’ll assess your posture and movement patterns to identify any restrictions or limitations contributing to your pain.

Our treatment programs are built on several key elements, all aimed at facilitating the health of your neck:

Posture Correction: Poor posture is a significant contributor to neck pain. Working with you, our therapists will guide you through the steps to correct your posture, effectively alleviating muscle strain on your neck and shoulders.

Hands-on Therapy and Custom Exercises: Our expert therapists use specialized manual treatments to free up restrictions and alleviate tension in soft tissues.  We’ll also develop personalized exercise routines aimed at targeting the source of your pain to improve mobility and strength.

Ergonomic Evaluation: Our therapists will provide practical recommendations for your work and home environments that can help minimize any physical strain on your neck and shoulders. We will also introduce you to stress-minimizing methods that can be seamlessly integrated into your work life.

We are committed to working closely with you to craft effective, proactive programs to restore mobility and contribute to overall well-being.

Ready to Take the First Step Toward a Pain-Free Neck?

Don’t let neck pain hold you back any longer. At Goldman Physical Therapy, our team of experts is here to give you the personalized help you need to feel better and stay that way. Let’s work together to create a plan that fits you perfectly. 

Contact us today to schedule your appointment with our amazing physical therapists and start your journey to a more comfortable, pain-free life!

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Unconventional Yet Effective Solutions for Neck Pain

Do you ever wake up with a stiff neck and wonder why it keeps happening? You’re not alone. Neck pain is pretty common, and it can be super annoying. But guess what? There are solutions, including some more unusual ones you may not have heard about yet. 

Our therapists at Goldman Physical Therapy use cutting-edge approaches to ensure you find the most effective ways to find lasting relief!

How to Help Your Neck Pain — Tips You May Not Know

Tackling neck pain is not just about focusing on the neck itself. By implementing these unconventional yet scientifically-backed recommendations into your daily routine, you’re setting yourself on a path toward relief and lasting wellness.

Lumbar Support Can Alleviate Neck Pain

The way your lower back is positioned has a big effect on your neck. Using lumbar support can help you sit up straight, letting your neck sit over your shoulders like it should. 

When you know you will be sitting for a while, whether at work or in the car, use a rolled-up towel or buy a lumbar roll to put in your lower back. Even though you’re changing the lower back position, your neck will thank you!

Why Thoracic Mobility Matters

The thoracic spine consists of the 12 vertebrae in your mid-back. It plays a critical role in your overall spinal function. When this area is stiff or restricted, your neck compensates by moving more than it should. This often leads to a forward head posture, which can strain the neck muscles and lead to long-term pain. 

Mind-Body Connection

Believe it or not, the state of your mind can also help heal your neck pain. Research has shown that stress can intensify pain, so techniques like mindfulness and breathing exercises can help reduce stress levels. Just a few minutes a day of deep breathing can go a long way. Using unconventional techniques like lumbar support, thoracic mobility exercises, and even mindfulness can help you feel better faster. Why not give these unconventional methods a try? Your neck will be happier for it!

Discover Healthy Plate Pleasures

Coconut Apricot Energy Balls

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups dried apricots

• 1 cup raw cashews (can sub blanched almonds or macadamia nuts)

• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (plus extra for rolling)

• 2 tbsp brown rice syrup

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• pinch of salt

Directions

Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse until everything is mixed together. You should be able to easily press the mixture between your fingers to form a sticky dough. Scoop out 1 tbsp at a time of the mixture and use your hands to roll into a ball, then dip each ball into a plate of shredded coconut. Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours to set.

Being Grateful is Good For You!

Gratitude and Health

Feeling thankful can improve your health in both direct and indirect ways. Some research shows that the experience of gratitude can induce a sense of relaxation, improve the immune system, and decrease blood pressure. But grateful people also tend to cultivate better health habits, like eating more nutritious food, exercising, and avoiding risky behaviors. In addition, the optimism that stems from gratitude can create a healing attitude: research shows that people with optimistic attitudes have better outcomes after medical procedures.

Gratitude and Joy

Robert Emmons, an internationally renowned scientific expert on gratitude, has found that acknowledging the good in life has a tendency to amplify positive emotions, such as joy and contentment, because it helps us slow down. “I think gratitude allows us to participate more in life,” he says. “We notice the positives more, and that magnifies the pleasures you get from life.” Consider the last time you had a good cup of coffee—did you pay attention to the warmth of the cup on your hands, or the feeling of pleasure as you took the first sip? It’s easy to ignore these small moments of positivity in our day as we rush from one activity to another, but stopping to appreciate them makes them more powerful.

Gratitude and Resilience

Practicing gratitude can also make you better equipped to handle the difficulties of life that inevitably arise. In fact, according to Emmons, it’s an essential part of the process of healing from trauma. Even despair can be mitigated by the experience of appreciation for the good, however slight it might be. Thankfulness for the small blessings helps you maintain your humanity despite experiencing a tragedy or loss. Many people with life-threatening illnesses also report decreased distress and increased positive emotions when they practice gratitude.

Recent MRI studies have mapped the gratitude circuitry in the brain, which activates a sense of reward, fairness, and decision-making—all aspects that help facilitate survival and post-traumatic growth.

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