Neck Pain

Neck pain - a common injury.

Neck pain is another very common injury, especially among office-workers and those who work at a computer for any length of time.

What causes neck pain?

Many things can trigger neck pain. These include:

• Trauma or injury
• Worry and stress
• Poor posture
• Prolonged use of a computer keyboard
  
  

Because of the long periods of time spent sitting in front of the computer, the neck, shoulder and back muscles are put under increased strain. These muscles eventually become weak and the strain is transmitted onto the ligaments and joints of the neck and back. This can result in neck and shoulder pain. Headaches may also develop.

Poor posture can be a significant contributor in the development of neck and upper back pain; this needs to be assessed, and strengthening exercises prescribed, to fix the cause of the problem.

Additional contributing factors can include a muscle imbalance of the muscles surrounding you shoulder blade, stiff and painful joints of the upper back and poor core strength resulting in an inability to maintain a correct posture.

What is the best treatment?

With this type of injury, physiotherapy can help, not only by treating the pain but also by giving advice and ergonomic assessment to stop the pain returning.