Neck Pain: Anatomy, Causes, and Relief

In a 2006 study, the National Institute of Health Statistics published a study claiming 2 out of every 3 Americans would experience neck pain at some point in their lives.

What's even scarier?

In 2021, the average American spends 5-6 hours per day just looking down at their cell phones/screens. Wow.

How do those statistics pertain to health of the cervical spine?

The average human head weighs 10-12 pounds. Because the head is so heavy (relative to the parts that support it), its natural tendency is to lean forward. The further the head leans forward, the heavier it gets.

As this happens, the cervical spine loses its natural curve (shaped like a "j") and becomes straighter (shaped like a lower case "i"). When the cervical spine straightens out, it places abnormal amounts of pressure on the vertebrae, the soft tissue (discs and ligaments), the supporting muscle groups (traps and neck muscles), and the spinal chord/peripheral nerves associated with that region.

Today we're going to talk about some of the neurological symptoms associated with neck pain, and more importantly, how we can experience some relief.

Neurological Symptoms Associated with Neck Pain/Subluxation of Cervical Vertebrae. Sound familiar?

Extensive studies have shown that subluxations (vertebrae out of alignment) are correlated with interruption of nerve function. Certain regions of the spine control certain areas of the body. For the cervical spine, the nerves coordinate function of the head, eyes, ears, mouth, shoulders, arms, and fingers. Therefore, misalignment of the cervical spine could interrupt nerve function such as:

-blood supply to the head
-headaches
-scalp sensation
-brain function
-allergies/sinuses
-drainage of nasal passages
-dizziness/balance
- neck muscles/shoulders/elbows/arms/fingers
-wrist function

Great, so there's a problem...how do we fix it?
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It's very simple. Since the loss of function and symptoms are being cause by misalignment of the cervical spine...you guessed it...we make sure the cervical spine is aligned properly. As we accomplish this, we relieve abnormal pressure on the vertebrae, the soft tissue, the supporting muscle groups, and most importantly, the nerves associated with the region. In turn, the symptoms regress, and eventually subside.

Remember, since the symptoms outlined above can also be by products of other ailments/conditions, it's important to seek out a licensed physician to make sure you're seeking the right types of treatment!

​Until next time!