Neck Muscle Strain or Spasm
What is it?
Neck muscular strain is when the neck muscle fibers are over stretched, strained or torn. This causes pain that results in the muscles going into a protective spasm, limiting your movement and increasing the pain.
What causes a Neck Muscle Strain?
Neck muscular strain can happen suddenly in a traumatic event such as whiplash or it can occur due to strain over time such as bad posture. Sometimes sleeping badly or getting a chill on your neck can cause it.
What Could you do to help a Neck Muscle Strain?
- Take regular doses of paracetamol, ibuprofen or a combination of the two to control pain. Ibuprofen gel can be rubbed onto the neck as an alternative to tablets. Always follow the dosage instructions on the packet.
- Holding a hot water bottle or heat pack to your neck may help to reduce any pain and muscle spasms.
- Sleep on a low, firm pillow at night. Avoid using two pillows as this may force your neck to bend unnaturally.
- Check your posture, as this can aggravate the pain and may have caused it in the first place
- Avoid wearing a neck collar – there is no evidence that this will help to heal your neck, and it is better to keep the neck mobile.
What can the Blackberry Clinic do to help?
The Blackberry Clinic has a wide range of therapists, Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, and Osteopaths who are skilled and experienced in diagnosing and treating Lower Back Muscular Strains. They will use a range of manual therapy techniques including, soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments) mobilisation, massage, trigger point therapy (releasing of knotted / tight muscles), myofascial release (connective tissue release), deep tissue massage, acupuncture, stretching and many other techniques.
Importantly they will also give you their expert advice on how to manage the condition and how to get back to your normal activities quickly and safely.
They will then educate you on how to change your postural habits that have contributed to the strain, such as better sitting and driving postures. This will give you the knowledge to take control and stop re-occurrence of the injury, after all prevention is better than cure!
