Seek Out Pilates-Based Physical Therapy for Neck Pain
If you’re struggling with neck pain, then you know how much it can impact every aspect of your life. It may be negatively affecting your sleep, work, exercise, or even recreational time. And if it’s associated with headaches, it can be sheer misery.
Yet, you may be able to find relief. More and more people are turning to Pilates-based physical therapy for neck pain.
Depending on the cause of your neck pain, working with a skilled Pilates-based physical therapist could be a serious game changer. The movements in Pilates are beneficial in not only easing neck pain and stiffness, but it preventing it too.
The Advantages of Pilates-Based Physical Therapy for Neck Pain
Pilates emphasizes proper posture and alignment. And since postural imbalances can be a significant contributor to neck pain, utilizing the movements in Pilates-based physical therapy can correct this.
Exercises in Pilates-based physical therapy build the abdominal, back, and pelvic floor muscles to strengthen the entire body. Plus, the movements recruit all of the body’s muscles – including the deeper muscles that stabilize your spine. Gaining strength and a full range of motion in your spine can relieve neck pain while reducing the likelihood of it returning.
Simply put, the focus on stability, strength, mobility, and flexibility in Pilates-based physical therapy corrects muscular imbalances, maintains postural alignment, and stresses awareness of how you move your body in your everyday activities.
What Causes Neck Pain/Injuries
Neck pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out a physical therapist. It’s important to understand the source of the pain. In the vast majority of cases, a hands-on treatment from a Pilates-based physical therapist (PT) can provide quick relief, while exercises are prescribed to progressively restore movement, build strength, and minimize the risk of recurrence. A PT also provides modifications for movements in one’s everyday life to further build awareness and lessen the chance of future neck problems.
Patients who seek out Pilates-based PT might have any of the following conditions:
1. Wry Neck
Wry neck, also known as torticollis, is a fairly common yet painful condition. While it can be congenital or acquired, the cause of wry neck is usually unknown.
2. Nerve Compression
Prolapsed discs in the cervical vertebrae (those of the neck) can press on the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord. This sort of neck pain is often accompanied by a weakened grip or tingling and numbness in the arm or hand. An experienced Pilates-based PT can address this.
3. Trauma/Accidents
Car/bike accidents, sports-related injuries, or falls can cause structural damage to the neck that affects joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and/or cervical vertebrae. Managing the pain with physical therapy following such injuries is crucial for regaining mobility and strength and avoiding recurring or chronic neck pain.
4. Strain/Tension/Poor Posture
By now, most of us have heard of “tech neck.” This is the condition of the chin and head jutting forward as a result of using phones and other devices. It’s also one of the most common causes of neck pain. The head in this unnatural position causes muscle strain and tension. And when this position is sustained for long amounts of time, it can lead to poor posture. A Pilates-based physical therapist works with clients to fine-tune awareness about this position and advises moving regularly to avoid more neck pain in the future.
5. Degenerative Conditions
Conditions such as osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease can also lead to neck pain – though they can also be asymptomatic. As these conditions are often a part of the normal aging process, it is difficult to “correct” them. However, working with a Pilates-based physical therapist can provide all of the above-mentioned benefits to keep the neck strong and stabilized.
Diagnosing Type of Neck Pain
When working with patients struggling with neck pain, a Pilates-based physical therapist works to diagnose the neck pain so he or she understands which structures of the neck are involved.
Most neck pain is considered ‘non-specific.’ This means there may be no clear cause of injury or that the pain came on after a specific incident. Radicular neck pain, on the other hand, occurs when a nerve root in the cervical spine becomes compressed and leads to numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain that radiates down the arm. Finally, there is neck pain as a result of serious pathology. These are rare and include spinal fractures, tumors, and some types of inflammatory conditions that may be better addressed by a specialist.
Curious About Treating Your Neck Pain with Pilates-Based PT?
Pilates-based physical therapy combines the benefits of personalized exercise with a PT’s comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, pathology, and rehabilitation.
So if you live in Southeast Michigan and are curious about Pilates-based physical therapy for neck pain, contact us today.
You’ll start with an assessment of your situation with a Pilates-based PT who can determine the cause and then create a safe, effective, and targeted routine to ease your pain.