It’s very common. So common that it’s ranked in the top 5 problems in the world for time lived with disabling pain.
Your neck is the most mobile part of your spine. It has many important roles, such as supporting and moving your head, and it also passes the second highest amount of sensory signals (called proprioception) to your brain. Your brain uses this information to automatically calibrate the position and movement of your head relative to your trunk, and to gravity. It also uses this information to co-ordinate and stabilise your body parts, such as your lower back, your hips, and your legs.
The Importance of Neck Function and Mobility
Your neck is the most mobile part of your spine.
It has many important roles, such as supporting and moving your head, and it also passes the second highest amount of sensory signals (called proprioception) to your brain.
Your brain uses this information to automatically calibrate the position and movement of your head relative to your trunk, and to gravity. It also uses this information to co-ordinate and stabilise your body parts, such as your lower back, your hips, and your legs.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Neck pain and restricted movement commonly occur together.
The most common causes are prolonged postures or repetitive movements. This makes occupational computer work a significant culprit.
These gradually cause damage over a long period of time until you reach a point where you find yourself in pain. Pain is usually the last symptom to appear. It signals that the neck has reached a point where coping mechanisms and compensations have failed. This can also result in cervicogenic and tension headaches (see headache blogs here).
The Impact of Proprioception Errors
Proprioception can also suffer when there is neck pain and impaired function.
Researchers have found that the information the neck sends to the brain about the position of the head, relative to the body and gravity, is incorrect.
Your brain then uses this erroneous information to control and stabilise movements of your lower back and hips.
This erroneous information results in inaccurate and unstable movements that can result in low back pain and injury.
The Surprising Impact of Neck Pain on Swimmers’ Performance
When I worked with members of the Australian Swimming Team I commonly saw problems in their necks (especially freestyle swimmers). The impact that this had on body position and power of movement in the water was obvious to the trained eye.
The swimmers changed how their bodies moved through the water, becoming less efficient and slower. We’re only talking fractions of a second, but to these professional athletes that was enough to mean the difference between a podium finish and a lucrative sponsorship deal.
The really unlucky ones ended up with debilitating shoulder injuries (the neck and shoulder work closely together)
Treatment Options for Neck Pain
Manual treatment is effective at reducing pain and improving function.
Pain-killer medications have a mixed track record, working for some but not others. But medications won’t fix the underlying functional or postural problems that led to the pain or headaches in the first place.
They just mask the symptoms.
Why Early Intervention Matters
It’s important to seek treatment as early as possible. Waiting a long time to see if it gets better by itself, or trying medications that don’t end up working costs a lot of time.
The longer this problem is allowed to quietly build up, the more treatment and rehabilitation will be required to improve the problem.
This is also why some people find it beneficial to get a check up every 4—6 weeks. They know the demands of their job aren’t going to change, so they get proactive about preventing problems in the first place.
Dr Gerard Keown started practice in 1997 as a remedial massage therapist and went on to complete his Bachelor of Health Science as a Naturopath in 2003, before finally completing a Masters Degree in Chiropractic at Macquarie University in 2010. He also has a special interest in headaches and neck pain.