Neck Pain


Neck Pain

In this post, we’ll explore the different types of neck pain, common causes, and how chiropractic care can help. At Whitetree Chiropractic in Edinburgh, we’re committed to helping our clients find relief from acute and chronic neck pain and discomfort through natural, non-invasive methods.

Types of Neck Pain: Muscle, Joint, and Nervous System Pain

Understanding the source of neck pain is the first step toward effective treatment. Generally, neck pain falls into three categories: muscle pain, joint pain, and nervous system pain.

Neck muscle pain

Muscle-related neck pain often manifests as stiffness and aches around the neck, shoulders, and even into the head. This type of pain frequently causes discomfort behind the eyes or across the forehead. These symptoms stem from common “referral patterns” of neck muscles, where tension in one area leads to pain in another.

These are common muscle referral patterns from the muscles of the neck, with the X showing where the tension in the muscle is, and the red area showing where that muscle can cause pain.

Why does muscle pain occur?

Postural stress is a major contributor to neck muscle tension (read more here). Other causes include:

  • Extended screen time (looking at a mobile device for too long)

  • Emotional stress

  • Poor posture, especially in the middle of the back

  • Infrequent desk setup adjustments

  • Sleeping on your front

These habits cause repetitive strain and lead to muscle fatigue. Stretching and regular movement are essential to relieve this type of neck tension, and work well alongside the chiropractic adjustment.

Neck joint pain or tension

When we sit or stand still for extended periods, the small, intrinsic muscles of the spine fatigue, causing us to rely on joints and connective tissue, which leads to joint tension. In chiropractic terms, we call these areas of restricted movement “subluxations.”

What are subluxations? Subluxations are areas where joints are not moving as they should, resulting in muscle weakening and pain. Restricted joint movement impacts muscle function and even reduces the brain’s ability to understand body positioning, which can affect balance and coordination.

Below is an image that is a horizontal cut through of the low back – you can see the muscles as dark (almost looks like a pork chop), whereas the worse the joint restriction is, the more fatty (that is white) the muscle tissue becomes, showing that the longer a joint is stuck, the worse the muscle function becomes, potentially causing pain and creating weak feedback to the brain.

The Nervous System and Chronic Neck Pain

While complex, the nervous system plays a significant role in neck pain. Limited joint movement and muscle fatigue can interfere with the brain’s sense of body position, resulting in abnormal movement patterns. This dysfunction may contribute to chronic pain, a type of pain that persists for over three months. Chronic neck pain is more complex and requires a different approach than acute pain.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help with Neck Pain

As a chiropractor in Edinburgh, I focus on improving joint mobility, reducing muscle tension, and enhancing the nervous system’s feedback to the brain. Chiropractic adjustments can lead to:

  • Reduced neck pain

  • Improved range of motion

  • Enhanced muscle strength

  • Better concentration and reaction times

  • Improved balance and coordination

  • Unexpected benefits like improved visual acuity and wider visual fields (research-supported)

Chiropractic care targets the root causes of neck pain, offering a holistic approach to wellness that addresses not just symptoms but also underlying dysfunctions.

Get in Touch for Neck Pain Relief in Edinburgh

If you’re struggling with neck pain and looking for a chiropractor in Edinburgh, consider scheduling an appointment at Whitetree Chiropractic. We’re here to answer your questions, assess your symptoms, and develop a customized plan to help you feel better, faster.

Yours in health – Gary Blackwood DC

Research

Abbruzzese, G., & Berardelli, A. (2003). Sensorimotor integration in movement disorders. Movement Disorders, 18(3), 231-240.

Adelson, E. H. (1993). Perceptual organization and the judgment of brightness. Science, 262(5142), 2042-2044.

•Bassett, D. S., Yang, M., Wymbs, N. F., & Grafton, S. T. (2015). Learning-induced autonomy of sensorimotor systems. Nat Neurosci, 18(5), 744-751. doi: 10.1038/nn.3993

Branney, J., & Breen, A. C. (2014). Does inter-vertebral range of motion increase after spinal manipulation? A prospective cohort study. Chiropr Man Therap, 22, 24. doi: 10.1186/s12998-014-0024-9

•Buneo, C. A., & Andersen, R. A. (2006). The posterior parietal cortex: sensorimotor interface for the planning and online control of visually guided movements. Neuropsychologia, 44(13), 2594-2606.

Carrick, F. R. (1997). Changes in brain function after manipulation of the cervical spine. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 20(8), 529-545.

•Cholewicki, J., Silfies, S. P., Shah, R. A., Greene, H. S., Reeves, N. P., Alvi, K., & Goldberg, B. (2005). Delayed trunk muscle reflex responses increase the risk of low back injuries. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 30(23), 2614-2620.

•Cooke, S. F., & Bliss, T. V. (2006). Plasticity in the human central nervous system Brain, 129(Pt 7), 1659-1673.

Durgin, F. H., Tripathy, S. P., & Levi, D. M. (1995). On the filling in of the visual blind spot: some rules of thumb. Perception, 24(7), 827-840.

Goodworth, A. D., & Peterka, R. J. (2009). Contribution of Sensorimotor Integration to Spinal Stabilization in Humans. J Neurophysiol, 102(1), 496-512. doi: 10.1152/jn.00118.2009

•Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2011). Subclinical neck pain and the effects of cervical manipulation on elbow joint position sense. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 34(2), 88-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.12.009

Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2012). The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control. J Electromyogr Kinesiol, 22(5), 768-776. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.02.012

Haavik Taylor, H., Holt, K., & Murphy, B. (2010). Exploring the neuromodulatory effects of the vertebral subluxation and chiropractic care. Chiropr J Aust, 40(1), 37-44.

Haavik Taylor, H., & Murphy, B. (2007). Altered cortical integration of dual somatosensory input following the cessation of a 20 minute period of repetitive muscle activity. Exp Br Res, 178(4), 488-498.

Haavik Taylor, H., & Murphy, B. (2007). Cervical spine manipulation alters sensorimotor integration: A somatosensory evoked potential study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 118(2), 391-402.

Haavik Taylor, H., & Murphy, B. (2008). Altered sensorimotor integration with cervical spine manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 31(2), 115-126.

Haavik Taylor, H., & Murphy, B. (2010). Altered central integration of dual somatosensory input after cervical spine manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 33(3), 178-188.

Haavik Taylor, H., & Murphy, B. (2010). The effects of spinal manipulation on central integration of dual somatosensory input observed after motor training: a crossover study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 33(4), 261-272. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.03.004

Henderson, C. N. (2012). The basis for spinal manipulation: Chiropractic perspective of indications and theory. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.03.008

Hillermann, B., Gomes, A. N., Korporaal, C., & Jackson, D. (2006). A pilot study comparing the effects of spinal manipulative therapy with those of extra-spinal manipulative therapy on quadriceps muscle strength. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 29(2), 145-149. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.12.003

Holmes, N. P., & Spence, C. (2005). Multisensory integration: space, time and superadditivity. Current Biology, 15(18), R762-764.

Holt, K. R. (2014). Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care in Improving Sensorimotor Function Associated with Falls Risk in Older People (PhD), University of Auckland, Auckland.

Kawchuk, G. N., Fryer, J., Jaremko, J. L., Zeng, H., Rowe, L., & Thompson, R. (2015). Real-time visualization of joint cavitation. PLoS One, 10(4), e0119470. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119470

Holt, K. R. (2014). Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care in Improving Sensorimotor Function Associated with Falls Risk in Older People (PhD), University of Auckland, Auckland.

Kawchuk, G. N., Fryer, J., Jaremko, J. L., Zeng, H., Rowe, L., & Thompson, R. (2015). Real-time visualization of joint cavitation. PLoS One, 10(4), e0119470. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119470

Kelly, D. D., Murphy, B. A., & Backhouse, D. P. (2000). Use of a mental rotation reaction-time paradigm to measure the effects of upper cervical adjustments on cortical processing: a pilot study. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, 23(4), 246-251.

Konczak, J., Corcos, D. M., Horak, F., Poizner, H., Shapiro, M., Tuite, P., . . . Maschke, M. (2009). Proprioception and motor control in Parkinson’s disease. J Mot Behav, 41(6), 543-552. doi: 10.3200/35-09-002

Marshall, P., & Murphy, B. (2006). The Effect of Sacroiliac Joint Manipulation on Feed-Forward Activation Times of the Deep Abdominal Musculature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 29(3), 196-202.

Mieritz, R. M., Hartvigsen, J., Boyle, E., Jakobsen, M. D., Aagaard, P., & Bronfort, G. (2014). Lumbar motion changes in chronic low back pain patients: a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial. Spine J, 14(11), 2618-2627. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2014.02.038

Mozolic, J. L., Hugenschmidt, C. E., Peiffer, A. M., & Laurienti, P. J. (2012). The Neural Bases of Multisensory Processes. In M. M. Murray & M. T. Wallace (Eds.), Multisensory Integration and Aging. Boca Raton FL: Llc.

Niazi, I. K., Turker, K. S., Flavel, S., Kinget, M., Duehr, J., & Haavik, H. (2015). Changes in H-reflex and V-waves following spinal manipulation. Exp Brain Res. doi: 10.1007/s00221-014-4193-5

Pickar, J. G. (2002). Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation. Spine J, 2(5), 357-371.

Schieppati, M., Nardone, A., & Schmid, M. (2003). Neck muscle fatigue affects postural control in man. Neuroscience, 121(2), 277-285.

Sigmundsson, H. (2005). Disorders of motor development (clumsy child syndrome). J Neural Transm Suppl(69), 51-68.

Tsuji, T., Matsuyama, Y., Goto, M., Yimin, Y., Sato, K., Hasegawa, Y., & Ishiguro, N. (2002). Knee-spine syndrome: correlation between sacral inclination and patellofemoral joint pain. J Orthop Sci, 7(5), 519-523. doi: 10.1007/s007760200092

Wand, B. M., Parkitny, L., O’Connell, N. E., Luomajoki, H., McAuley, J. H., Thacker, M., & Moseley, G. L. (2011). Cortical changes in chronic low back pain: current state of the art and implications for clinical practice. Man Ther, 16(1), 15-20. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2010.06.008

Wingfield, B. R., & Gorman, R. F. (2000). Treatment of severe glaucomatous visual field deficit by chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy: a prospective case study and discussion. J Manipulative Physiol Ther., 23(6), 428-434.