{"id":5096,"date":"2024-07-26T21:35:34","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T21:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/self-treatment-for-neck-pain-headaches\/"},"modified":"2024-07-26T22:06:02","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T22:06:02","slug":"self-treatment-for-neck-pain-headaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/self-treatment-for-neck-pain-headaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Self Treatment For Neck Pain &#038; Headaches"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your Sydney CBD &amp; Waterloo chiropractor enjoys working with those suffering chronic &amp; acute neck pain, even when other therapies have failed. <a href=\"http:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/portfolio\/neck-pain-stiffness\/\">Neck pain<\/a> is the fourthleading cause of disability, with an annual prevalence rate exceeding 30%. Most episodes of acute neck pain will resolve with or without treatment, but nearly 50% of individuals will continue to experience some degree of pain or frequent occurrences (1). <!--more-->Neck pain is multi factorial, some factors that are involved include extended sitting times, poor posture such as forward head carriage, sleeping on one&#8217;s stomach, stress, a general lack of exercise, trauma to the area such as whiplash etc&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Myofascial trigger points, which are hyper irritable taught bands of contracted muscles are commonly associated with chronic neck pain &amp; headaches when looking at the pain producing structures in the neck, shoulder &amp; head. In this article I will go through some self help techniques\u00a0to help\u00a0prevent\u00a0the formation\/re-occurrence\u00a0of trigger points that I often recommend to my patients with neck pain &amp; headaches.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Erector-Spinae-Waterloo-Chiropractor1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1443 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Erector-Spinae-Waterloo-Chiropractor1.jpg\" alt=\"Waterloo Chiropractor\" width=\"255\" height=\"198\" \/><\/a>Lay on a heat pack for 10-15 minutes with a rolled up towel under your neck, this offers neck support to help the muscles relax and pushes heat directly to the area. I usually recommend this heat pack\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wheatbags.com.au\/people\/back\/cs-classic-spinal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.wheatbags.com.au<\/a>) as it covers the neck and <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1421 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Back-Balls-Waterloo-Chiropractor.jpg\" alt=\"Waterloo Chiropractor\" width=\"133\" height=\"196\" \/>the full column of muscles (erector spinae). Note how the the erector spinae gropup of muscles run the full length of the spine from the pelvis all the way up to the base of the shull, in my experience releasing these groups of muscles so the there supple &amp; balanced have the greatest impact in improving back &amp; neck pain. The best way to do this\u00a0is by using a set of\u00a0back balls (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bakballs.com\/www\/977\/1001127\/displayproductcategory\/1003323.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.bakballs.com<\/a>) or make them yourself &amp; doing this simple technique\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=arPlpI_ZQzA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.youtube.com\/spine-release<\/a>). To get the full benefits of this technique it is vital you take your time with it and wait &amp; hold at each segment for \u00a0roughly 30 seconds.<\/p>\n<p>To get to those &#8216;hard to reach places&#8217;, the tool I recommend is the Back Body Buddy (<a href=\"http:\/\/bodybackbuddy.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.bodybackbuddy.com.au<\/a>). This tool is ideal\u00a0for the upper back, neck and shoulders such as the trapezius, levator scapula &amp; neck muscles muscles (see diagrams below), which research has shown that\u00a0people suffering with neck pain &amp; headaches have a much higher incidence of these trigger points and also show a correlation between the amount of\u00a0trigger points in these muscles and pain levels when compared to people without neck pain and\/or headaches (2-4). It is also worth noting, degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the neck is not all that heavily correlated with neck pain &amp; associated symptoms. (5)<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Body Back Buddy<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>trapezius trigger point<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Levator Scapulae trigger point<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Splenius cervicis trigger point<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1.<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Headache-Trigger-Points-Waterloo-Chiropractor.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1423 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/body-back-buddy-1.jpg\" alt=\"Back Buddy- Waterloo Chiropractor.\" width=\"311\" height=\"285\" \/><\/a>2.<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Upper-Trapezius-Waterloo-Chiropractor.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1425\" src=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Upper-Trapezius-Waterloo-Chiropractor.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Trapezius- Waterloo Chiropractor\" width=\"261\" height=\"193\" \/>3.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Levator-Scaupula-Waterloo-Chiropractor.png\" alt=\"Levator Scaupula- Waterloo Chiropractor\" \/><\/a>4.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1433\" src=\"https:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Upper-Trapezius-2-Waterloo-Chiropractor.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Trapezius 2- Waterloo Chiropractor\" width=\"248\" height=\"203\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"cit\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you would like more information <a href=\"http:\/\/sydneychiroandmassage.com.au\/contact\/\">contact <\/a>your Sydney CBD &amp; Waterloo chiropractor.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"cit\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"cit\" style=\"text-align: center;\">References<\/div>\n<div class=\"cit\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"cit\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1.)\u00a0Cohen SP. \u00a0Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain.\u00a0Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Feb;90(2):284-99. doi: 10.1016\/j.mayocp.2014.09.008.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"cit\">2.)\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Fern%C3%A1ndez-de-Las-Pe%C3%B1as%20C%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=16942471\">Fern\u00e1ndez-de-Las-Pe\u00f1as C<\/a><sup>1<\/sup>, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Alonso-Blanco%20C%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=16942471\">Alonso-Blanco C<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Cuadrado%20ML%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=16942471\">Cuadrado ML<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Gerwin%20RD%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=16942471\">Gerwin RD<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Pareja%20JA%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=16942471\">Pareja JA<\/a>. \u00a0Myofascial trigger points and their relationship to headache clinical parameters in chronic tension-type headache. <a style=\"color: #000000;\" title=\"Headache.\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/16942471#\">Headache.<\/a> 2006 Sep;46(8):1264-72.<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3.)\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Fern%C3%A1ndez-de-Las-Pe%C3%B1as%20C%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=17501847\">Fern\u00e1ndez-de-Las-Pe\u00f1as C<\/a><sup>1<\/sup>, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Cuadrado%20ML%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=17501847\">Cuadrado ML<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/?term=Pareja%20JA%5BAuthor%5D&amp;cauthor=true&amp;cauthor_uid=17501847\">Pareja JA<\/a>.\u00a0Myofascial trigger points, neck mobility, and forward head posture in episodic tension-type headache.\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" title=\"Headache.\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/17501847#\">Headache.<\/a> 2007 May;47(5):662-7.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">4.) Fern\u00e1ndez-de-Las-Pe\u00f1as C, Simons D, Cuadrado ML, Pareja J.\u00a0The role of myofascial trigger points in musculoskeletal pain syndromes of the head and neck.\u00a0Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2007 Oct;11(5):365-72.<\/span><br \/>\n5.) Rudy IS, Poulos A, Owen L, Batters A, Kieliszek K, Willox J, Jenkins H.\u00a0The correlation of radiographic findings and patient symptomatology in cervical degenerative joint disease: a cross-sectional study.<span style=\"font-size: 12px; line-height: 0px;\">. \u00a0<\/span>Chiropr Man Therap. 2015 Feb 9;23:9. doi: 10.1186\/s12998-015-0052-0. eCollection 2015.<\/p>\n<div class=\"small\">\n<h6 class=\"auths\">.<\/h6>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your Sydney CBD &amp; Waterloo chiropractor enjoys working with those suffering chronic &amp; acute neck pain, even when other therapies have failed. Neck pain is the fourthleading cause of disability,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5096","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chiropractic-for-migraine-headachechiropractor-sydneymassage-for-neck-pain-headachewaterloo-chiropractor"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5096"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5205,"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5096\/revisions\/5205"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingserver3.com\/sydney\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}