Ever wake up with a crick in your neck? Or do you suffer from a restricted range of motion and discomfort every day? You’re not alone. Neck pain is a common reason that people come to our Sacramento office looking for help. Thankfully, chiropractic care is a gentle and effective way to get relief!

Everyday Activities That Contribute to Neck Pain:

You might be surprised to learn that your daily routine could be the source of your neck pain. Let’s dive into some common root causes:

Injury: Whiplash from a motor vehicle accident or time doing contact sports can jolt your neck, causing lasting discomfort. These sudden, forceful movements can strain muscles and ligaments, leading to persistent pain.

Physical strain: Whether you’re starting a new workout regime or your job involves repetitive motions, overexertion can lead to neck pain. Even something as simple as painting a ceiling can leave your neck muscles crying out for relief.

Mental stress: Feeling tense? Your neck might be too. Stress often manifests physically, causing us to unconsciously tighten our neck and shoulder muscles.

Other health conditions: While less common, certain medical issues, such as meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or even cancer, can cause neck pain. If your pain is accompanied by symptoms like a fever, please consult a healthcare professional.

Poor posture: Our team at Barham Chiropractic sees an increasing number of people with forward head carriage or “text neck.” This condition, where the head is too far forward from the shoulders, like a turtle, causes the neck to lose its natural curve and may begin to have a reverse curve.

This is becoming increasingly common, and it’s no wonder why. We’re constantly connected to our devices, often at the expense of our neck health. Hours spent looking down at smartphones or hunching over laptops can put excessive strain on your neck muscles, leading to discomfort and long-term issues.

Here’s a startling fact: for every degree your neck bends forward, the effective weight of your head on your spine increases. It’s like holding a bowling ball further and further away from your body. At a 15-degree angle, your 10-12-pound head feels more like 27 pounds to your neck muscles. At 60 degrees? That’s a whopping 60 pounds of pressure!

This constant strain can lead to:

Muscle fatigue and soreness
Pinched nerves
Headaches
Reduced range of motion
Premature disc degeneration

Poor posture at work, while driving, or even when slouching on a couch can contribute to neck pain. The first step is awareness. By consciously maintaining a neutral spine position, taking regular breaks to stretch, and setting up ergonomic workstations, you can significantly reduce the risk of posture-related neck pain.

However, that alone may not be enough to restore your neck’s natural curve. We recommend being evaluated by our team of chiropractors, who can specifically adjust the misaligned vertebrae into place.

The Impact of Neck Pain on Daily Life

Neck pain isn’t just a nuisance; it can significantly disrupt your daily routine. At work, chronic neck discomfort can make it difficult to focus or to sit comfortably at your desk. If you have a job that requires you to turn your head frequently, or if you spend long hours driving, a restricted range of motion in your neck can be annoying at best or a safety risk at the worst.

Neck pain can also rob you of quality sleep, as you try to find a comfortable position. This becomes a vicious cycle as sleep is necessary for healing, which can make chronic or acute pain worse and impact your overall well-being.

Other symptoms frequently follow neck pain, such as headaches, particularly tension headaches that start at the base of the skull. It may seem easier to take pain relief medication to treat both issues short-term, however, this approach doesn’t solve the root cause of either headaches or neck pain, and can bring unwanted side effects.

Understanding these impacts underscores the importance of addressing neck pain naturally to maintain a high quality of life.

Woman palpating back of her own neck due to neck stiffness and achy muscles

Man palpating back of own neck due to neck stiffness and muscle ache

The Natural, Chiropractic Approach to Neck Pain

Some patients who come to our Sacramento office with neck pain are looking for help, but are still hesitant, nervous, or even afraid of having their neck adjusted.

We want to set your mind at ease with our warm, professional approach. Our team of chiropractors takes the time to carefully evaluate your spine. We want to identify where there are misaligned vertebrae that could be pinching or irritating the nerves. We assess the health of your spinal discs to see if there are any herniated or bulging discs that could be contributing to your discomfort.

To correct the subluxations, we will gently and specifically adjust the misaligned vertebrae. We’re trained in various techniques to make this effective and comfortable. We may suggested other corrective care therapies, like spinal decompression to help heal your discs, or massage to soother and relax tense muscles.

If you’re in the Sacramento area and you’re tired of suffering with neck pain, book an appointment today. We’d love to answer any of your questions and help you address the root cause of your neck pain, so you can get back to living a full, active life.

Why Choose Us for Neck Pain Treatment in Sacramento?

Since 1992, Barham Chiropractic has been home to the best chiropractors in Sacramento. Our family's clinic is committed to providing you with exceptional neck pain care!