This neck pain can be caused by several different things, such as trauma, overuse, and poor posture. Trauma to the neck is most commonly associated with whiplash injuries during a car accident, but it can also occur because of a sport injury, or even a work accident. At Essential Motion Chiropractic in Fort Collins, Colorado, we treat all types of neck pain and neck stiffness.

Overuse, or wear and tear in the neck is due to an accumulation of stresses and trauma over time. Our necks withstand a considerable amount of strain, simply by doing the things we normally do throughout the day, because the neck supports the weight of the head. This constant strain can eventually lead to degenerative changes in the soft tissues and bones. Chiropractic care is very effective for the symptoms caused by wear and tear, because it helps to restore the necks full range of motion, and prevents the strain from building up too much in any one spot.

Postural issues are fairly common and can easily lead to neck pain or stiffness over time. One of the most common postural issues occurs because of our modern lifestyle. Many people spend hours of their day working at a computer, or in their car. Without realizing it, most people tend to slouch, with their neck sticking out in front of their shoulders. This puts a large consistent strain on the posterior neck muscles, causing muscular imbalances, which can lead to not only neck pain, but also symptoms down the arms, such as pain, numbness or tingling.

Some people don’t experience neck pain but they will notice that their neck feels stiff. Neck stiffness can also be a sign of all the above issues. The neck is supposed to have a fairly large range of motion, and neck stiffness usually indicates that the range of motion is restricted. Over time, this can lead to degenerative changes such as osteoarthritis in the spine.