Neck disorders and treatment
Many people have suffered neck pain or stiffness over time and others may have succumbed to injuries such as whiplash. Neck pain or stiffness is often caused by poor posture, carrying items incorrectly, often over several occasions, and any repetitive movement of the body that affects the neck.
It is important to understand what the neck actually does and how it works so you can improve your posture and conduct tasks in a better way.
What comprises the neck?
The neck is comprised of several muscles, including digastric, mylohyoid, stylohyoid, thyrohyoid, superior and inferior belly of omohyoid muscles, scalene, deltoid, trapezius, pectoralis major and sternocleidomastoid.
If you saw both frontal and side view images of the neck muscles, you would see how they cross over to create flexible strength. This enables people to carry heavy items on their heads like you see tribal women in Africa for instance. They have perfect posture! When structures (like neck muscles) are organised in such a way it allows for an even distribution of tension, providing stability and strength.
Depending on how you use your body you can strengthen or weaken your neck over time. The neck, often referred to medically as the ‘cervical spine’, comprises several vertebrae extending from the skull to the upper torso. The cervical discs absorb shock between the bones. Bones, ligaments and muscles of the neck support the head and allow motion.
Understanding crucial aspects of the neck
The neck has a lot to support, including that very important part of the human body – the brain. We take the neck for granted. It is only when we feel discomfort or limited movement that we realise its importance in everyday activities.
The adult human head holds the brain, teeth, eyes, facial muscles and more, and weighs approximately 4.5 to five kg. The brain itself weighs approximately 3.36 kg in an adult. Poor posture can add weight to the load the neck must carry. We really don’t want to do this, since overburdening the neck muscles can contribute to discomfort.
Check your posture now
Stand straight and pull your core in. Don’t forget to breathe!
Relax your shoulders and your chin, now place your longest finger very lightly on the outside of your thigh.
Close your eyes and see if you have the sensation of rocking or are still. See if you get a sensation of rocking forward more than back and forth.
Tune into your body and notice how your feet are placed on the ground.
I check this stance with everyone. It can be very subtle, but people never pay attention to how they stand, even how they walk. It may also indicate a tilting pelvis.
In Bowen therapy, we say, “How you place your feet on the ground will reflect on all joints above.”, in this case, right up to the shoulders and neck.
Next time you are out walking watch people, see how they move and notice their posture. So many people stand, walk or run incorrectly. Many people walk with their head forward slightly extending the neck. We call this ‘forward head posture’. You could be standing straight but your ears are not in line with your shoulders. This is something I look for in Bowen therapy assessments.
If you tend to lead with your head when walking even 2.5 cm it can put an extra 4 kg weight on your neck and shoulder muscles. If 1.25 cm then it would be approximately 2 kg.
Keep in mind that habitual forward head posture can lead to degenerative disc disease, joint problems, disc herniation, misalignment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), headaches or migraines. It can also affect the lower back because the top of the spine, known as the axis, is opposite to the coccyx (tailbone). What affects the lower end of the spine can also affect the upper and vice versa. We might refer to this as ‘poor biomechanical use of the body.’
Other factors that contribute to neck pain:
Sleeping in the wrong position, such as on your stomach then twisting your neck on the pillow or on a pillow that is too high or low and does not support you correctly.
Jerking the neck during an exercise routine.
Spending long periods with your head resting on an upright fist or arm. This habit is often observed in those studying or listening to lectures.
Sitting for extended periods without breaks, especially with incorrect desk height and lack of supportive seating.
Hunching over computers and smartphones.
Holding your head in a forward or awkward position for a lengthy period of time. This is often seen while working, watching TV, using a smartphone, reading or holding the telephone while talking, particularly if you crook the phone under your neck.
Certain types of work, such as painting ceilings or other overhead tasks, may require you to strain your neck for an extended period of time.
Headstands, such as in gymnastics, yoga and Pilates. Any exercises that requires you to put weight on the upper back and shoulder area whilst raising your legs.
Ballet dancing, especially ‘en-pointe’, puts tremendous stress on all foot, ankle bones and the entire spine, right up to the axis and neck.
Sinusitis can trigger neck pain because of the location of the sphenoid sinuses. Sinus headaches can trigger radial pain on the top of the head and back of the neck.
Ear disorders, such as earache, swimmers ear, foreign objects in the ear, ruptured ear drum and labyrinthitis (inflammation of the labyrinth a part of the inner ear that helps to control balance).
Digestive stress including digestive reflux (now often referred to as GERD) and coeliac disease.
Minor nerve root compression affecting T1-T4.
Ageing joints, osteoarthritis (often referred to as cervical spondylosis or cervical osteoarthritis) particularly when bone spurs develop and restrict joint movement.
Herniation of discs and bone spurs.
Whiplash from impact accidents, this is commonly associated with vehicle collisions.
Fibromyalgia, which causes muscle pain throughout the body, can contribute to neck pain.
Osteoporosis can weaken bones contributing to small fractures and breaks.
Thyroid cancer/nodules. Not all nodules are cancerous; swellings can cause some neck discomfort.
Medications that can trigger neck tension and spasms
Certain medications can cause tension in the upper back and shoulders, especially when they are linked to eye movement. The muscles that move the eyes also play a role in providing feedback to the brain and stimulating the neck muscles. This is known as a ‘postural reflex’, where the neck muscles are activated when we focus on a target, allowing the head to move in the direction of the eyes. This close connection between eye movements and neck muscles happens unconsciously, without us having to think about it.
Glaucoma medications can contribute to neck tension. Prostaglandin analogues (the most popular glaucoma drops), act as messenger molecules regulating contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles and could overstimulate ocular muscles. The signal is relayed via neural pathways to the vestibular region in the brain that coordinates postural reflex muscles in the neck. If you are taking glaucoma medications that are prostaglandin analogues and experiencing persistent neck tension despite several treatments, you may want to consider changing your medications.
Other drugs that have been noted to contribute to neck pain include Atapryl, Carbex, L-Deprenyl, Eldepryl and Selegiline (used to treat Parkinson’s disease and tremors) and Nefazodonean (an anti-depressant that was removed from the market in a few countries due to liver toxicity that appears to be still prescribed in Australia).
It’s crucial to relieve tension in the neck if you have brain disorders, macular degeneration, glaucoma or chronic sinusitis. This can help ensure that blood and lymph circulate evenly and efficiently.
Treating the neck with Bowen therapy
A few common disorders:
During hormonal changes (particularly menopause) I have observed some women experience tingling and weakness in their forearms or hands. Poor posture and hormonal change can contribute to this, but the neck must be treated to free-up tension and misalignment.
Repetitive strain injury, tennis elbow and carpel tunnel syndrome all require regular neck treatments to address misalignment, tension and sometimes pinched nerves due to constriction of tissues and/or fascia.
Short-leg syndrome. Often this can be a bit painful initially but once freed-up it can help with adjusting the shorter leg.
Whiplash. This can be minor or severe. Depending on each individual case, the neck may be treated gently with Bowen therapy. Over time strengthening exercises would be encouraged to give strength and aid recovery. Inflammation can be treated with acupuncture and/or anti-inflammatory remedies such as arnica.
Dizziness can result from neck tension/pain and misalignment since head position is important for equilibrium.
Headaches can also occur with the dizziness. When neck pain is resolved, often the dizzy spells cease.
TMJ misalignment, sinusitis, headaches, postural problems as noted above, fibromyalgia, labyrinthitis, (including homeopathic/herbs) and all digestive disorders (including relevant remedies).
Ocular hypertension and glaucoma.
Memory function.
Joint disorders can be improved but degeneration cannot be reversed. I work at stabilising this disorder with supporting remedies.
Education on improving body posture is extremely important and everyone needs to practise this on a daily basis. By applying such exercises, you will gradually retrain the body to let go of bad habits and help to avoid ongoing neck pain.
Don’t delay, arrange for a treatment now. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get.
Lyn Craven is a practitioner of naturopathy, Bowen therapy and Reiki. She is also a meditation teacher and corporate health consultant. Lyn runs a private practice in Sydney and can be contacted on 0403 231 804 or
[email protected]
