A common complaint in all age groups is a stiff neck. This is sometimes accompanied by pain in the neck and shoulders. The limitation is especially noted in the neck whilst driving a car. Looking over the shoulder is difficult if not impossible and mirrors are required. Often this disability is coupled to age and sometimes (para)medics have said that it is caused by wear and tear. The truth behind the stiff neck is more complex, but surely not untreatable.
Because the neck is stiff and cannot move properly it is made vulnerable. This is often expressed in the neck / shoulder pain and / or headache. Having a conversation with someone next to you is painful after a while and the chair must be turned to be able to continue, the television needs to be right in front and reading a book raises the pain. It is also difficult to sleep and the neck should has to be well supported to avoid pain at night.
The cause of a stiff neck is often sought in the muscles. Nothing is further from the truth! The real cause of a stiff neck is ALWAYS situated in one or more joints in the neck. This is actually the case throughout the whole spine. The muscles do react to a problem in the joint and to provide protection with tension, but this is not the cause of the complaint. Hence, massage, muscle relaxants and heat usually only deliver temporary relief.
A stiff neck is almost always caused by adhesions in and around the cervical joints. Adhesions occur during daily activities because small damages can occur which can not be felt. These little damages are called micro traumas. After some time these minor damages will produce scar tissue. This scar tissue is the actual adhesion. People who are working in a poor posture, or have had an injury are more prone to these adhesions. The articular adhesions are not something chronic and can be broken through. Elderly people are indeed more likely to have adhesions, because they have undergone minor damage for a longer period of time and therefore more scar tissue formed. This has absolutely nothing to do with wear and tear of the joints. Actually, the wear and tear rarely is the cause of the stiffness. The wear and tear DOES say something about the amount of loads someone has put on the neck and therefore more adhesions are found. Important difference is that the adhesions are treatable and can be eliminated, but wear and tear can not be repaired.
The treatment of the chiropractor is focused on breaking adhesions and thus increasing the mobility. This is done through specific manipulations of the joints at the level where adhesions are present. Other structures are anticipated. Furthermore, we recommend how the load on the neck can be minimized. We advice on (working) posture, exercise, sleeping posture, foot position and the whole spine and pelvis with the effort to normalize the loads on the neck.
If necessary, X-rays and /or scans are made to support the diagnosis. Also old X-rays and scans are reviewed and included in the diagnosis.
People who are treated in our clinic have dramatic improvement or complete recovery of the rotation of the neck and less pain because the CAUSE of the complaint is addressed. It is certainly not necessary to live with a stiff neck and all the accompanying symptoms. If the cause is addressed, the symptoms will improve.