When you think of sports injuries, where does your mind go? Most people immediately imagine ACL tears, concussions, or other dramatic injuries. However, neck pain in athletes is also surprisingly common. Understanding the causes of neck-related sports injuries and effective recovery methods is essential for athletes to maintain peak performance and avoid long-term issues.
Athletes can develop neck pain for a variety of reasons. Football players, wrestlers, and hockey players are particularly at risk due to the high likelihood of collisions and falls. However, non-contact sports like swimming or cycling can lead to neck pain from repetitive motion and muscle strain.
Whether it develops due to a sudden impact, overuse, or poor posture during training, neck pain can be a–well, a pain in the neck! Fortunately, the team at St. Pete Physical Therapy has extensive experience helping athletes and other active individuals address pain and limited mobility so they can get back in the game.
Today, we want to explore this often-underlooked source of sports-related pain, exploring some common neck injuries and how physical therapy can help. Keep reading to learn more!
What Causes Neck Pain in Athletes?
Muscle Strain
This is one of the most frequent causes of neck pain in athletes. It occurs when the muscles and tendons in the neck are damaged, either due to acute injuries (such as during contact sports) or, more frequently, overuse or improper techniques. Symptoms will vary based on the severity of the injury but generally include pain and limited range of motion.
Whiplash-Associated Disorders
While many people associate whiplash with car accidents, it can also occur during sports, especially contact sports like football and hockey. Whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly forced back and forth, and the resulting injuries to muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues in the neck are known as whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). Like muscle strains, WADs can cause pain and immobility.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when the center of an intervertebral cervical disc pushes through a crack in the tougher exterior casing, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, and arms. For athletes, herniated discs generally occur as a result of sudden injury.
How Physical Therapy Will Help Address Your Neck Pain
While neck pain can make day-to-day activities–not to mention training and participating in your favorite sport–more difficult, physical therapy at St. Pete Physical Therapy offers several evidence-based solutions.
The first thing we’ll do at our St. Petersburg, FL clinic is conduct a comprehensive assessment to help us understand the underlying cause of your discomfort. This process includes evaluating your posture, range of motion, and strength. We’ll also review your medical history, exact symptoms, and the specifics of your sports activities.
Using this information, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan. Treatment methods generally include manual therapy to reduce pain and improve mobility and targeted exercises to mobilize the neck joint and strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles. If your pain is especially intense, we might also suggest techniques like ultrasound therapy or electrical stimulation to further alleviate discomfort and promote healing.
However, we don’t just want to mask your symptoms–we want to resolve them completely. This is one reason why we stress exercise in our treatment plans, as it often helps address the underlying muscular weakness that contributed to your injury in the first place. However, we’ll take things further with postural corrections, training tips, and other strategies to keep you active and injury-free.
Are You an Athlete? Say Goodbye to Neck Pain
Neck pain in athletes may not get as much attention as other sports injuries, but it can make it hard for you to play at the top of your game. Don’t ignore that persistent pain–make an appointment with St. Pete Physical Therapy instead! Our team is here to help.
