Almost anyone can develop a condition called cervical radiculopathy, or a pinched neck nerve, and it’s this condition that commonly leads to pain in the neck and shoulder that radiates down the arm. However, there are factors that can increase people’s risk of this condition.
Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve running out of the neck gets pinched or irritated. It’s estimated that nearly 6 in every 1,000 Americans have this condition at any given time. A physical therapist can help you learn about risk factors that increase your risk of cervical radiculopathy. These musculoskeletal system experts can also help treat the pain in the neck and shoulder that radiates down the arm caused by pinched neck nerves.
These factors increase your risk of cervical radiculopathy
It’s true that any person can experience cervical radiculopathy. But there are certain factors that make it harder to avoid the neck and shoulder pain and the pain radiating down the arm that this condition causes. Some of these factors are:
- Doing manual labor.
- Routinely lifting more than 25 pounds.
- Operating vibrating equipment.
- Having cervical osteoarthritis.
- Developing a herniated disc.
- Degeneration of the cervical discs as you age.
Ways physical therapists can treat cervical radiculopathy
There are treatment options that can reduce the pain in your neck and shoulder that radiates down your arm. Many of the most effective options are used by physical therapists. In fact, physical therapists can treat cervical radiculopathy symptoms with techniques like:
- Manual therapy that involves your physical therapist using their hands to stretch tense neck and shoulder muscles and realign the neck vertebrae.
- Therapeutic exercises to allow you to stretch and strengthen neck and shoulder muscles.
- Functional dry needling designed to break down knots in soft tissue that are causing tension.
- Spine care training that can help you improve your posture.
Find effective cervical radiculopathy treatment at Border Therapy Services
Feeling pain in your neck and shoulders that’s radiating down your arm? Our physical therapists at Border Therapy Services can help you treat the cervical radiculopathy that’s causing your symptoms. We’ll start by doing a free screening on you to confirm this is the cause of your symptoms. Then, our specialists will create a personalized therapy plan for you. This plan will be designed to offer benefits like:
- Reducing pain.
- Improving your ability to move.
- Decreasing your risk of future episodes of cervical radiculopathy.
We can also help you get care for your condition from home thanks to our at-home care and virtual therapy services.
Contact us today for more information about our cervical radiculopathy treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.