Oh no, you have neck pain and numbness and tingling down your forearm to your pinkie finger. What is going on? Another case may be that your neck was a little stiff, but now you have soreness and aching traveling down to your shoulder blade. Is this pain coming from your neck or is it “bad posture”? This newsletter will discuss how Dr. Iodice evaluates your neck pain and treatment strategies to relieve pain and help you return to an active lifestyle!
One of the many tools Dr. Iodice uses is the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. Dr. Iodice will complete an assessment to determine how repeated movements or holding a posture affects your symptoms. For example, when you turn your head to the right does the pain down your arm get better or worse? This process helps identify a directional preference, meaning a particular movement consistently improves symptoms. If bending your neck forward always decreases your pain then neck flexion is your directional preference. Treatment is then designed around movements that produce a positive response.
One important concept in the McKenzie Method is called centralization. This is when pain that has spread away from the neck into the shoulder or down the arm moves closer to the spine after doing certain movements or positions. Centralization is a good thing! If looking up to the ceiling and moving your neck into extension relieves the pain in your shoulder blade then your symptoms have centralized.
In contrast, peripheralization occurs when symptoms move farther away from the spine; such as radiating to the shoulder blade or causing tingling in your hand. Movements that cause peripheralization will be avoided or modified in the initial phases of treatment.
Exercises are an important part of treating neck pain. Depending on your assessment, exercises may include repeated neck extension, flexion or rotation. The goal of the exercises will be to centralize the symptoms you are having so after you complete your exercises the pain down your arm is less or eliminated. These exercises will be performed throughout the day; therefore, you can manage your symptoms at home and work instead of only getting relief from a chiropractic or therapy session.
Posture correction is another important part of treatment. Many people spend hours sitting at computers, driving or performing activities that keep the head and shoulders in one position. Dr. Iodice can help you recognize positions that aggravate your symptoms and teach you how to make adjustments to prevent a flare-up of pain. Working on good posture and avoiding prolonged periods in one position can reduce stress on the neck and upper back.
Education and self-management are important features of the McKenzie Method. Patients are taught to understand their symptoms and recognize which activities make them better or worse. This helps you take an active role in your recovery. Instead of relying completely on chiropractic adjustments, massage or other treatments by a professional, patients learn exercises and movements that they can perform on their own to relieve pain!
Hands-on treatment in our office will also be used as part of the rehabilitation process. Each patient is treated individually and chiropractic manipulation, dry needling and myofascial release may all be used to treat your neck pain and help you return to pain-free activities.
An important feature of the McKenzie Method is patient involvement in their treatment. The goal is not simply for Dr. Iodice to complete an adjustment and send you on your way! Although, hands on treatments can be an essential component of the healing process; we also want patients to understand and manage their symptoms through exercise and posture. This emphasis on self-management can give you greater confidence and control over your recovery.
The McKenzie Method is one of the many tools that can be used in treating neck pain. By examining how symptoms respond to repeated movements and postures, an individualized treatment program can be developed to help you manage your symptoms at home. Advanced Healthcare and Sports Injury wants to help you take control of your pain and get back to the life you love!
