Pain in your neck and shoulder that lasts for months. Difficulty doing normal daily tasks. An increasing reliance on pain medications to get through your day. These are just some of the issues that chronic neck and shoulder pain can lead to.
Unfortunately, long-term neck and shoulder discomfort are far from uncommon. One study reports that 30% of patients with neck pain develop chronic symptoms. Another medical survey reveals that up to 50% of shoulder pain patients report having persistent or recurring pain after 12 months.
Understanding the connection between neck pain and shoulder pain can help you treat them. Physical therapists can offer insight into the connection between the neck and shoulder, and they can provide treatment options that can reduce pain and prevent its recurrence.
Two ways that chronic neck and shoulder pain are connected
There are two primary structures that connect chronic neck and shoulder pain. These two structures are:
- Muscles — There are several muscles that run from the neck into the shoulders. One is the trapezius muscle; the sternocleidomastoid and levator scapulae muscles are two other examples. An injury to such muscles can cause pain in both the neck and shoulder.
- Nerves — The neck and shoulder are also connected by nerves. A nerve structure called the brachial plexus connects these two areas. A pinched nerve in this set of nerves can easily lead to pain in both the neck and shoulder.
How can physical therapy treat chronic neck and shoulder pain?
Physical therapy is an effective way to treat long-term or recurring neck and shoulder pain. Therapy specialists are trained to treat many musculoskeletal disorders. This includes dealing with muscle or nerve issues that are causing your pain.
The therapy plan that your physical therapist builds for you will likely make use of multiple therapy techniques. These techniques can include:
- Soft tissue mobilization designed to relieve tension in neck and shoulder muscles
- Joint mobilization that can decrease nerve pinching in neck joints
- Dry needling to create a local twitch response in neck or shoulder muscles
- Neuro rehab that’s designed to improve function after a nerve injury
- At-home care sessions where you work with your physical therapist one-on-one in your own home
- Virtual therapy appointments that allow you to meet with your physical therapist over a secure online video link
Find the help you need for chronic neck and shoulder pain at Border Therapy Services
Discouraged by neck and shoulder pain that just seems to go on and on? Our Border Therapy Services team is ready to help you find therapeutic care that can decrease your pain. We’ll start by evaluating your neck and shoulder to determine the root cause of your pain. Then, our therapy specialists will construct a personalized therapy plan for you that’s designed to reduce and prevent your pain.
Contact us today for more information about all the therapy services we can offer you or to schedule your initial appointment.