Research indicates
that, on any given day, approximately 10% of adults must
cope with neck pain. When young adults develop acute neck
pain it is usually the result of turning awkwardly during
the night, or playing a sport which requires quick neck
movement such as squash. Lifting things improperly can
also cause neck pain. Middle aged people are more likely
to develop neck pain as a result of the normal degenerative
changes of the discs and facet joints of the cervical
spine.
There are five main causes of neck & back
pain:
| 1 |
Strains and/or sprains account
for the majority of neck & back problems
If you are suffering from a strain and/or
sprain you will likely have reduced mobility in
one or more directions. Positions that demand extreme
ranges of motion - particularly rotation - will
increase your neck pain. So will any kind of jarring
move. Usually, there are no neurological signs which
means no nerves are damaged.
The majority of back pain is caused by strains
and/or sprains of the back's muscles, ligaments
and tendons. Because so many of us lead inactive
lives, our muscles become lax and lose their ability
to support the spine properly. After time, the ligaments
and tendons can also lose their ability to function
properly. If you've ever doubted how much pain muscle
strain can cause, try holding a very heavy dictionary
in your outstretched arm for five minutes!
Poor posture over many years, especially for those
of us who spend a lot of time sitting, puts enormous
strain on the spine causing neck pain. In some cases,
a person bends over to pick something up and the
sudden exertion sends the muscles into spasm. But
just as often, back pain creeps up slowly. You may
suffer from backache after strenuous activity. Or
in the morning. Or after sitting, or standing in
one position for an hour or more. In these cases,
poor posture is generally as much to blame as an
inactive lifestyle.
|
| 2 |
Disc problems are most common in neck &
back pain patients under the age of about 40.
If you have a disc problem, flexion,
and rotation toward the side on which the disc is
bulging, or herniated, most often causes the most
neck pain. On rare occasions, however, a disc will
bulge, or herniate, centrally rather than to one
side; in this case, rotation will not increase the
neck pain.
In extreme cases, a centrally herniated disc may
effect bowel or bladder function. This is a medical
emergency, which may require immediate surgery.
The discs between the vertebrae can also be involved
in back pain. Two things can happen. Most commonly,
the disc's outer casing, called the annulus, weakens.
When this happens, the disc bulges, irritating a
nearby nerve. Less often, the centre portion of
the disc actually bursts, or herniates, through
a tear in the annulus and pinches a nearby nerve.
This may cause severe leg pain if the herniation
occurs in the lower portion of the spine. This is
often called sciatica. In fact, patients with herniated
discs are far more likely to complain of leg pain
than back pain. Most people who suffer from a herniated
disc are under the age of 40.
|
| 3 |
Patients suffering from spinal stenosis
are most often over the age of 45.
Spinal stenosis patients generally find that
extension - prolonged extension in particular - aggravates
their back problem. In general, spinal stenosis causes
chronic rather than acute pain. Many people find it
difficult to walk any distance unless they learn how
to adjust their posture so that they do not walk with
their low back extended. This can be done by assuming
the pelvic tilt position as a normal walking posture.
As we age, the discs begin to dry out slightly
and become thinner. This natural process is sometimes
called disc degeneration. When this occurs, other
problems sometimes arise: the space in the vertebrae
through which the nerves exit can become narrow,
causing the nerves to be irritated. This condition
is called spinal stenosis. Most people with spinal
stenosis are over the age of 40.
|
| 4 |
Facet joint problems are more difficult
to categorize in terms of age but most often, these
patients are over the age of 40.
Prolonged extension tends to increase facet
joint problems. Most people tend to suffer from chronic
rather than acute pain. If they do experience an acute
flare-up, however, rotation usually increases the
pain dramatically. The onset can often help distinguish
facet joint syndrome from stenosis although further
diagnostic testing may be required.
As we age, our facet joints may also become slightly
misaligned, especially if our posture has been poor
for many years. When this happens, they can eventually
become worn. This condition is known as facet joint
syndrome.
|
| 5 |
Osteoarthritis patients are generally over
the age of 45.
If your problem fits into the category of
osteoarthritis, itís likely that extreme ranges
of motion will increase your pain. So will vibration
and compression - for example, jumping up and down.
The onset is often different, however. For example,
strains and sprains usually hurt immediately after
an injury occurs. The neck pain caused by osteoarthritis
generally develops more slowly. Sometimes, it is not
felt until the next day.
As the wearing process described above continues,
our bodies try to compensate to make our spines
more stable once again. For instance, where a disc
is attached to the vertebra above and below it,
osteophytes - little growths of bone - begin to
form. Similarly, osteophytes often appear around
the facets joints. When this happens, the condition
is called osteoarthritis, which is very different
from other, more severe types of arthritis that
sometimes leave people crippled. In fact, by the
time we reach middle age, most of us have mild osteoarthritis
that causes some backache from time to time. Eventually,
however, osteophytes make the spine more stable,
although less flexible, and the neck pain tends
to subside.
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Testimonials
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feedback on the ease of use, immediate relief
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The device enhances our current therapy program
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