Every time you turn or tilt your head, your neck is working. Yet, most of us don’t really think about how much our neck is involved in head movement until it starts to hurt.
You aren’t alone if you’re feeling neck pain when turning your head. Medical research reveals that up to 70% of people develop neck pain at some point in their lives. Even so, you may want to know exactly what’s causing your neck pain and what you can do to address it.
Physical therapists can help you with both of these goals. Their training in the human musculoskeletal system allows them to diagnose many issues that cause neck pain. Additionally, these medical specialists offer effective treatment for neck pain you feel when turning your head.
Three common causes of neck pain when turning your head:
- Neck muscle injury — Most people may think that injuring a neck muscle involves doing some rigorous activity. However, it’s possible to irritate a neck muscle just by sleeping in the wrong position. Poor posture can also lead to neck muscle tension and pain.
- Pinched nerves — There are many nerves that branch off the spinal cord in your neck. Inflammation in neck soft tissue or a spinal misalignment can cause neck nerves to be pinched or irritated. In turn, this can trigger sharp pains that run from your neck into your head, upper back or shoulders. These pains are often triggered by moving your head and neck in certain ways.
- Herniated cervical discs — There are pillowlike structures between your neck vertebrae called spinal discs. These discs can become damaged or wear out as you age. When the damage involves the inner disc material poking out of the outer covering, it’s called a herniated disc. Often, herniated cervical discs are the root cause of pinched neck nerves.
Border Therapy Services offers help for neck pain when turning your head
Tired of feeling neck pain every time you turn your head? Our physical therapy team at Border Therapy Services empathizes with you. But we can do far more than that. We can do a free screening on your neck to pinpoint the cause of your pain. Also, our physical therapists excel at building personalized therapy plans designed to reduce neck pain. We even offer at-home therapy and telehealth services that allow you to treat your pain without leaving home.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can help treat your neck pain or to schedule your initial PT appointment.