One of the great things about chiropractic care is the variety of treatment options. What this means is, as a chiropractor, I can deliver treatments that are alternatives to neck adjustments for your neck pain if the situation presents.
When should you avoid chiropractic neck adjustments?
There are a few reasons and situations when I will treat someone’s neck pain without an adjustment (spinal manipulation therapy):
- The person does not want their neck adjusted
- After going through a thorough history (discussion of injury/condition), there are indicators that a persons condition is out of my scope of practice and would benefit from a medical evaluation (family doctor, emergency room, etc.)
- The person would benefit from manual therapy of the muscles and joints but due to one or more factors we will opt for alternatives until these considerations are no longer front and center.
Let’s dig a bit deeper with each of these before looking at alternatives to chiropractic neck adjustments.
I don’t want my chiropractor to adjust my neck
The main reason someone will present with neck pain and not want to have a cervical spine adjustment is fear of harm. In the clinic, before treatment, we have a full discussion of the risks associated with chiropractic care, including neck adjustments. After discussing the science, it is up to you to decide how the risk and benefits weigh out for you and your situation. I understand wanting to look for alternative treatments to chiropractic neck adjustments if you are uncomfortable with spinal manipulation therapy.
Assuming your pain is due to muscle, joint, disc or nerves, we discuss what types of treatments can help you. There are other types of chiropractic treatment we can use to help you get symptom relief other than neck adjustments. This includes soft tissue therapy, mobilizations, rehabilitation therapy, health education, and acupuncture.
Chiropractor refers out for further investigation
Typically when someone presents to my clinic it is with a condition relating to posture or movement. That is to say, pain with movement, restricted movement, and pain or stiffness with prolonged postures. Occasionally someone might be experiencing neck pain or other symptoms that are stemming from a medical condition.
An example of this would be someone who is experiencing numbness in the tips of their fingers as a result of uncontrolled diabetes. In the history and physical exam I look to to see if the nerves are being irritated at the neck (or along other sites down the arm), as well as explore other possible causes (like diabetic neuropathy). While chiropractors can treat conditions involving the nerves like neck radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, in this case it is suspected the numbness is being caused by diabetes so a referral to their family health practitioner is appropriate.
Medical conditions muddying the waters
It is rare that someone presents to the clinic with one single issue. More often than not, individuals have multiple health conditions. On top of everything, they are experiencing muscle or joint pain as well and are seeking relief.
An example of this is someone experiencing chronic unexplained dizziness who recently strained a muscle in their neck from holding an awkward head posture during a long video conference. Providing alternative treatments to neck adjustments allows me to provide relief for their neck pain without interfering with the medical investigations into the dizziness.
Alternatives to neck adjustments
If we decide to move forward with chiropractic treatment without neck adjustments, what type of treatment can you expect for your neck pain?
Soft tissue therapy is a type of chiropractic treatment that uses techniques that target the muscles. Different techniques include
- myofascial release therapy
- trigger point therapy
- autogenic inhibition
- reciprocal inhibition
- cross friction therapy
- instrument assisted soft tissue therapy.
Mobilizations is a type of chiropractic treatment that targets joint mobility through gentle and slow movements directed at the joints and joint capsules.
Rehabilitation therapy works to restore function and strength through graded and targeted exercises specific to you and your situation. This includes reviewing exercises in-house, as well as home exercise prescription.
Health education is an important factor for recovery. This guidance varies depending on the individual, but can include topics like
- pain management strategies
- pain education
- coping strategies
- mindfulness and deep breathing techniques
- healthy living (diet, physical recreation)
The last treatment alternative to neck adjustments is acupuncture, which works by reducing pain sensation.
Dr. Judith is a chiropractor in Sharon, providing chiropractic care, rehabilitation therapy, health education, and acupuncture to the nearby communities of East Gwillimbury, Newmarket, Keswick, and Bradford.
Do you have neck pain or dysfunction? Check out our online booking portal for appointment availability:
References
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