Five reasons why your neck may be sore

Some minor neck pain is a normal part of life. Often, it is the result of poor posture or sleeping in an awkward position. This kind of neck pain is usually treatable with some home methods, like medication or icing.

Other causes of neck pain may be more serious and require medical attention. In these cases, you may need to see a physical therapist for treatment.

Five causes of a sore neck

The causes of neck pain vary in severity and require different forms of treatment. Here are five reasons you may have a sore neck that may require physical therapy:

1. You look down too often — Hanging your head while walking or tilting it down while texting or using your computer puts a lot of strain on your neck muscles. Each inch forward you hold your head puts an additional ten pounds of pressure on your muscles. That’s quite a lot of strain if you do this frequently.
   
   You should work on your posture to help keep your neck from getting sore. Sit and stand with your back straight and your chin tilted up. Try to keep your shoulders even with your chest too.
2. You don’t drink enough water — The discs between the vertebrae in your spine help cushion your spine from shock and friction. These discs are primarily made up of water, so it’s important to drink plenty of water to help them function.
3. You’re growing older — Growing older is something we all have to do, whether we like it or not. Your body changes as you grow older, and one impact aging has on you is wearing down the discs in your neck.
   
   These are the same discs between your vertebrae that are made up of mostly water. As you age, the outer shell of these discs grows more stiff, which makes it more difficult for the discs to absorb shock.
4. You have arthritis — Arthritis is a condition that can cause inflammation in the joints that wears down your cartilage. There are many forms of arthritis, but generally, they all cause limited range of motion and pain in the affected joints. This can happen along the vertebrae in your neck, causing neck pain.
5. You have whiplash — Whiplash is an injury that can cause pain and stiffness in the neck. You get whiplash when a sudden motion causes your head and neck to lunge in one direction. This kind of injury is common in car accidents and full-contact sports.

Treating neck pain at Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (SSOR)

Regardless of the cause of your neck pain, physical therapy may be able to help. Our physical therapists at SSOR specialize in methods that can help relieve pain in your neck. We also offer treatments that can help prevent future neck pain from developing.

Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.