Chiropractic Health & Wellness Blog

Minneapolis Chiropractic Care for Neck pain is a non-surgical treatment option that can help reduce your neck pain symptoms.

Some neck conditions that can improve with chiropractic care are:

• cervical intervertebral disc injuries that don’t require surgery
• cervical sprain injuries
• degenerative joint syndrome of the neck
• facet joint sprain
• Whiplash

How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose Neck Pain?

Your chiropractor will evaluate your spine as a whole because other regions of the spine may be affected as well—not just your neck. Along with treating the spine as a whole, Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic treat the “whole person,” not just your specific symptoms. 

Before deciding which approach to try for your pain, the our chiropractor will do a thorough examination to diagnose the specific cause of your neck pain.

He will determine any areas of restricted movement and will look at how you walk as well as your overall posture and spinal alignment. Doing these things can help your chiropractor understand your Quick read more or view full article body mechanics.

In addition to the physical exam, you’ll also go through your past medical history with the chiropractor, and he or she may take x-rays or order imaging tests (eg, an x-ray or MRI) to help him or her diagnose the exact cause of your neck pain.

All these steps in the diagnostic process will give your chiropractor more information about your neck pain, which will help your chiropractor create a treatment plan customized for you.

Your chiropractor will also rule out a neck pain condition that will require surgery—if he or she believes your neck pain would be better treated by surgery, then you’ll be referred to a spine surgeon.

Chiropractic Treatments:

Your chiropractor may use a combination of spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and other techniques as part of your treatment plan for neck pain.

Below are some spinal manipulation techniques your chiropractor may use.

• Flexion-distraction technique is a gentle, hands-on spinal manipulation that involves a pumping action on the intervertebral disc instead of direct force.
• Instrument-assisted manipulation also known as Activator - a hand-held instrument to allow your chiropractor to apply force without thrusting into the spine.
• Specific spinal manipulation helps restore joint movement using a gentle thrusting technique.

Your chiropractor may also use manual therapies to treat your neck pain to help relax your muscles, relieve muscle spasm and hopefully relieve your pain.

• Graston or Active Release Techinque ( ART ) uses special instruments to diagnose and treat muscle tension which helps resore injured muscles, tendons and ligaments. 
• Manual joint stretching and resistance techniques can help reduce neck pain and other symptoms.
• Therapeutic massage can help relax tense muscles.
• Trigger point therapy is used to reduce tight, painful points on a muscle.

Other therapies may also be used to ease neck pain symptoms.

• Inferential electrical stimulation uses a low frequency electrical current to stimulate neck muscles.
• Ultrasound sends sound waves into your muscle tissues to help stiffness and pain in your neck.

Therapeutic exercises may also be recommended—these can help improve overall range of motion in your neck and prevent neck pain from progressing.

The treatments listed above are simply examples of possible chiropractic treatments for neck pain; your actual treatment plan will depend on your diagnosis. Your chiropractor should thoroughly explain your treatment options so that you know what will happen. If you have any questions please always feel free to ask questions and ask you chiropractor doing the exam to explain what and why they are deciding on your treatment plan or options.

Most chiropractors are there to help people and enjoy making people feel better with working with your body.  If needed medication and pain meds might be needed, conatct your medical doctor but for sure follow up with a chiropractor or P.T. to correct what is causing your pain.

If your reading this blog or posting and would like a Free Consulation at  Lyn Lake Chiropractic please call anytime 612-879-8000.  Or if you would like us to help refer you to a chiropractor in your area, call us we will help find you a chiropractor near your home.

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Whiplash commonly occurs as a result of a motor vehicle collision when (typically) there is a sudden stop or slow down that occurs so fast a person cannot adequately brace himself or herself, even when aware of the impending collision. This is because the “whiplash” effect is over in about second and we cannot voluntarily contract a muscle quicker. The injury effect is worsened by several other factors including: 1. Small target / large “bullet” vehicle; 2. Too much seat inclination; 3. Improper headrest position; 4. A “springy” seat back; 5. A tall slender neck (females > males); and 6. Head rotation at the time of impact. Suffice it to say, in many cases, there is little one can do to avoid injury. So, how do x-rays help?

Let’s use a classic “rear-end collision” as our example. The driver (female) is seat-belted, in a small compact car, and her car Quick read more or view full article is stopped in traffic. All of a sudden, the car is struck from behind by a ¾ ton pickup truck (“bullet vehicle”). Just before impact, the driver, startled by the squeal of the tires breaking suddenly, turns her head to look behind the car via the rear view mirror. Upon impact, the car is propelled forward and she feels her head accelerate back initially, ride over the headrest (because it was set too low) and then accelerate forwards, without striking the steering wheel. Her head returns back to an upright position and the she reports being “shaken up.

” She visits her chiropractor and an examination reveals neck pain at the endpoints of forward and backward bending, headaches, numbness into the left arm to the thumb side of the hand and weakness in certain arm and wrist muscles. The chiropractor orders a flexion-extension cervical spine x-ray as shown below:

The x-rays are explained to the patient as follows: “…The middle image shows a reversed cervical curve when bending forwards but notice how little the spine and head have moved forwards? It hurts because the ligaments that hold the bones together have either over stretched or tore, which is called a “sprain.” If the head and neck are forced far enough forwards, then something has got to give. Either bones will fracture or, ligaments will tear, or both. When ligaments tear, the bones separate or open up greater than the levels above and below (see the 2 arrows). This creates a rather acute angle, like someone broke a stick (see the 2 arrows). Looking closely on the x-ray, the vertebra above appears to be sliding forwards (C4 over 5), which again supports torn ligaments and loss of stability.”

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future. Read Less