Cervical Strain
Overuse, such as too many hours hunched over a desk or a steering wheel, often triggers muscle strains. Neck muscles, particularly those in the back of your neck, become fatigued and eventually strained. When you overuse your neck muscles repeatedly, chronic pain can develop. Even minor activities such as reading in bed or gritting your teeth can strain neck muscles.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of cervical strain may include:
- Muscle discomfort in the neck, upper back, or shoulders
- Difficulty turn or bending neck
- Pain that travels down into the shoulder or arm
- Numbness or tingling in the arm, hand, or fingers
- Muscle weakness in arm and decreased grip strength
- Headaches
SSPT’s approach to treating cervical strain
Your SSPT therapy for cervical strain may include:
- Modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and heat or ice packs to help increase neck mobility and decrease inflammation, muscle spasm and pain
- Joint and soft tissue mobilization
- Exercises to help improve posture, stretch tight muscles, and strengthen weak muscles
- Education about body mechanics to minimize strain on the neck and prevent future occurrences
Learn more about other spinal conditions:
