Neck pain is common in people of all ages and is often caused by the way we hold and use our necks. At our central Oxford clinic we regularly help patients whose neck pain stems from working all day bent over a computer, driving long distances, or poor posture while standing or sitting, stress and tiredness. These are all factors that can contribute to neck pain by causing the muscles in the neck and upper back to become tight and the joints to become stiff.
Our osteopaths are also experienced in helping patients where a nerve in their neck has become irritated or “trapped”, causing pain in the arm going down into the shoulder or the hand. They can also report pins and needles and numbness.
Some of our patients come to us for help with persistent headaches, which can be the result of tension or stiffness in the neck and upper back.
We also treat patients with osteoarthritis or age-related wear and tear in the neck, which can also cause muscular pain from the neck into the shoulder as well as some stiffness in moving the neck.
We’re here to help
In your first appointment at Central Oxford Osteopathy, one of our osteopaths will identify the source of your neck pain and tailor a treatment plan to meet your individual needs. We can use a wide range of gentle manual treatments depending on your age, fitness and diagnosis to reduce muscular tension in your neck and improve movement in the joints of your neck and upper back. We may gently massage the soft tissues of your neck or rhythmically “rock” the joints to release tension. Sometimes we may gently manipulate the neck to loosen the joints and you may hear a “click”.
If your neck pain is severe or if other manual treatments have not provided lasting
relief you may be a candidate for our innovative IDD therapy spinal decompression.
We are the only clinic in Oxford with the technology and expertise to offer this
treatment.
Your long term recovery is important to us. Once we have treated your immediate pain at the clinic, we will help you maintain your recovery by recommending gentle exercise and stretches you can do at home. We may offer advice on your lifestyle particularly if we feel there is a repetitive activity that may be triggering your back pain. We may also offer advice on your posture and provide advice on diet and exercise.
If you think we can help you with your pain, then book to see an osteopath at our Oxford clinic today.
Acknowledgement: with thanks to Institute of Osteopathy for data and sources.
