PBA Tip of the Day brought to you by OSR Physical Therapy 623-551-9706.
Beyond the way it feels, neck and shoulder pain can keep you from your daily life. You may lose sleep at night, avoid activities that once brought you joy, or overall feel unpleasant and miserable. It can be stressful trying to manage neck or shoulder pain on your own. From not knowing the cause to looking for a reliable solution—you may not know where to start. Here are some common causes of neck and shoulder pain, and how you can go about relieving them.
Common Causes of Neck & Shoulder Pain
Diagnosing the cause of neck or shoulder pain can be tricky. Since the nerves and muscles in your neck and shoulder are so close together, the pain associated with your shoulder could really be a problem with your neck. That’s why it’s so important to get a professional opinion. Seeking a professional opinion can help you find a solution faster. If you’re having trouble figuring out the cause of your neck pain, you should schedule an appointment.
Effects of Aging
One of the most common causes of neck or shoulder pain is age. Over time, wear and tear on certain muscles and tendons in the shoulder and neck put a strain on your movement. While it’s a perfectly natural occurrence, it can only worsen if not taken care of properly.
Environmental Cause
In many cases, the environment or setting you’re in contributes to the cause of your neck and shoulder pain. For example, long periods of sitting or standing can put extra strain on your neck and shoulders. If you work a job that requires you to adjust your posture to conform to your workstation/desk, it could contribute to your neck and back pain. Even the way you sleep has an impact on neck and shoulder pain. Certain sleeping positions can add pressure to your rotator cuff (located in your shoulder) and cause flare-ups.
Conditions & Posture Problems
Similar to the way you sleep, your posture throughout the day contributes to neck and shoulder pain. Poor posture can add more strain to your neck and shoulder as well as other parts of your body. Your neck posture could also lead to other conditions that cause the pain. Conditions such as vertigo result in dizziness and are often caused by poor neck posture. If you’ve ever suffered an injury that disrupted your shoulder, neck, or head alignment, it may very well be the cause of your pain. These include slipped disks, nerve pain, whiplash, and more.
How To Relieve Neck and Shoulder Pain
When looking for a way to relieve your shoulder pain, consider physical therapy. Using a variety of diagnostic techniques, a physical therapist can help you pinpoint the root of the problem. This may involve combining several therapies to deliver you much-needed relief. You may be tempted to turn to over-the-counter pain relievers, but that’s just a temporary solution. Surgery is another option but is often invasive and expensive. Instead, consider some of these treatment options that physical therapy offers.
Who doesn’t enjoy a relaxing massage? This therapeutic massage helps loosen up your tight muscles, resulting in pain relief in the neck and shoulders. While typically associated with back pain, massage therapy can target various muscle groups. And since shoulder and neck muscles are so close together, massage therapy can handle both.
As mentioned before, your posture plays a large role in neck and shoulder pain. With postural restoration, your posture will be evaluated by a professional. They’ll look for any dysfunctions, interferences, and other factors. Once the evaluation is complete, they’ll design a treatment plan that caters to your needs. It’ll also help you find relief from posture-related pain in your neck and shoulder.
Decompression therapy is a great option for people who suffer from herniated discs and/or pinched nerves, both of which can be a cause of neck pain. This is a painless and minimally invasive treatment. It’s beneficial to your neck and shoulder because it facilitates healing and restores your spine’s normal functions.
It’s important to find not only relief but the cause of your pain as well. The best way to do that is to schedule an appointment at any of OSR’s physical therapy clinic locations. Our staff can help you find relief for neck and shoulder pain, and we’ll develop an individualized treatment plan that addresses your needs. 
