Health blog Category: neck pain
Stress or lack of sleep causing knots in the upper body muscles
By Jason Makoutz, DPT
Neck pain and neck injuries are some of the most common reasons we see patients at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center. Whether the cause be from a specific injury or incident or due to poor posture. Some common ailments related to the neck that we see include tight/overworked muscles, headaches, osteoarthritis, joint stiffness, and whiplash. All of these can cause pain, weakness, and decrease ability to perform everyday activities.
Common Causes of Neck Injury:
- Motor vehicle accident
- Poor posture/ergonomics
- Weak musculature
- Poor sleep positioning
- Stress
Neck pain can present itself in many different ways.
Read full blogHow disc problems cause upper body discomfort
Neck pain is a common complaint in the orthopedic rehab world, and we’ve certainly treated our share of patients who suffer from various conditions related to neck pain at LSTC. With the high prevalence of desk jobs, the influx of cell phone use, computer use and video gaming, as well as time spent relaxing in front of the TV, our posture certainly suffers more often than we realize. Although poor posture and sedentary lifestyles are big contributions to neck pain, there are several other conditions that can cause that big pain in the neck.
Read full blogSpine Anatomy and Spine Problems
By: Mike Bills, MS PT
In order to understand why spine problems get started, let’s first talk about spine anatomy. Your spine is comprised of many vertebrae. These are the bones that make up your spine and they’re like rocks that sit on top of each other in a very specific fashion. In order for the spine to do its job, these vertebra must sit on top of each other, from your neck all the way to your tailbone, in a curve that looks like the letter S.
Spending A Lot of Time Texting, Typing or Driving?
If you spend hours driving, texting, typing or even just sleeping in the wrong position the odds are you have either poor posture or neck pain. Spending extended periods of time in incorrect can lead to incorrect movement patterns and increase your injury risk over time. One of the easiest ways to see if you are at increased risk for a neck injury is to look at the motion that you have. We will highlight a few quick screens that you can complete to assess your own injury risk.
Read full blogHave you ever fallen asleep in an awkward position?
By: Cierra Washington, ATC
Raise your hand if you’ve ever fallen asleep in an awkward position and had the unexpected pleasure of waking up to a “crick in your neck”. For years, I’ve used the phrase “crick in my neck,” and yet I never really knew what it referred to other than general neck discomfort. When most people complain of a “crick” in their neck, they’re referring to either pain or stiffness, most likely in the form of a cramp or spasm.
Muscle Tightness Making Morning Commutes Even Harder?
What causes stiffness in the neck and how can we prevent this common condition?
One of the biggest contributors to neck pain and stiffness is our poor posture. A lot of us sit at a desk for work or school for several hours throughout the day. You are probably often not aware of your posture. You might not have a workstation that is set up ergonomically; your computer screens are too high or too low; we are on our phones or our tablets and looking down.
Nod if a ‘crick’ or knot is interrupting sleep
Neck problems are becoming more common due our sedentary lifestyles. How often do we use computers and phones throughout the day? Now think about your posture whenever you use these devices. Chances are, there’s probably room for improvement there.
Posture plays a large role in maintaining neck health and limits your chance of developing problems that can negatively affect your daily activities. Issues with your neck are commonly associated with pain, headaches, and general stiffness.
Don’t Turn Away From this Discomfort
Neck pain is a very common problem for every age group and one we treat often at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center. Our patients will typically complain about pain along the middle of the neck, pain in the middle of the back and pain radiating into the top of the shoulder along the upper trapezius muscle which, can also radiate down your arm into the fingers. These symptoms often cause the patient to have difficulty sitting, sleeping and turning their neck.
Read full blogThree tips to stand up straighter with less discomfort
By: Devin Wurman, DPT
These days, more people are working sedentary jobs at a desk and/or using mobile technology for their day to day communications. Think about how you sit when you do these things. How is your posture? It’s so easy for us to slip into a poor posture when we’re mindlessly reading emails or sending texts. The problem is that these poor postures are a direct cause of neck discomfort.
Discomfort Checking Blinds Spots When Driving
Neck problems are becoming more common due our sedentary lifestyles. How often do we use computers and phones throughout the day? Now think about your posture whenever you use these devices. Chances are, there’s probably room for improvement there.
Posture plays a large role in maintaining neck health and limits your chance of developing problems that can negatively affect your daily activities. Issues with your neck are commonly associated with pain, headaches, and general stiffness. Stiffness will cause difficulty looking over your shoulder, looking up or down.
