Physical therapy can make a world of difference for those struggling with neck pain. Take Sarah, for example (we’ve changed her name). As an avid swimmer, Sarah began experiencing persistent neck pain that interfered with her training and daily life. Frustrated and eager to find relief, Sarah turned to St Pete Physical Therapy for neck pain rehab–and found lasting relief.
Neck pain is a relatively common complaint, and it can arise from various causes, including muscle strain, poor posture, and injuries such as a herniated cervical disc. We’ve seen them all at our St Pete Physical Therapy in St. Petersburg, FL clinic, and we work with each patient to develop a customized treatment program that suits their needs.
Today, we want to share Sarah’s story to let you know what you can expect when you visit us for neck pain rehab. From her initial assessment to her final appointment, Sarah’s experience is an excellent example of the many benefits of physical therapy for addressing neck pain.
Let’s get started!
The First Step to Neck Pain Relief: Finding the Cause
Sarah’s first appointment with us consisted of a thorough physical exam. We reviewed her health history, discussed her symptoms, and learned more about her work as a graphic designer and her experience as a swimmer. We also conducted a few simple screens to test Sarah’s neck mobility and pain levels.
All this information helps us determine the reason for Sarah’s neck pain. Why? Because once we knew the cause, we could develop the best treatment plan for her needs.
We determined that Sarah’s neck pain had developed for a couple of reasons. Firstly, she had developed an overuse injury in the soft tissue of her neck due to the frequent head-turning movements required when swimming laps. However, the long hours she spent in front of a computer had weakened her neck muscles, making her more susceptible to injury.
Now that we knew the cause, it was time to work on the treatment!
Continuing the Journey: Comprehensive Neck Pain Rehab
We developed a customized treatment program that addressed Sarah’s unique concerns. Here’s what we included:
Manual Therapy
- Manual therapy includes several hands-on techniques to reduce pain, improve mobility, and prepare her body for treatment. For Sarah, we utilized the following:
- Neck mobilizations, in which we gently guided her neck through its current range of motion
- Soft tissue manipulation, a massage-like technique targeting the muscles and tendons in her neck
Therapeutic Exercise
- Although Sarah was physically active, she needed to perform neck-specific exercises to address the muscular imbalances and weakness that had led to her injury. We focused on building strength in her neck and upper back muscles, helping to provide better support for her neck, whether she was sitting at her desk or gliding through the pool.
Postural Assessment (And Corrections)
- We also helped Sarah improve her posture while she was at work. This wasn’t a matter of helping her to sit up straight. Instead, we taught her some tips to maintain postural awareness while she worked at her computer. We also helped her develop a plan to take more frequent breaks during the day. Getting up and moving around every 30-45 minutes goes a long way to reducing neck strain.
The Results: Lasting Neck Pain Relief
Within a month of starting physical therapy, Sarah noticed a significant reduction in her neck pain. She could return to swimming without discomfort and felt more comfortable during her workday. The personalized approach to neck pain rehab we offered at St Pete Physical Therapy helped alleviate her pain and reduce her chances of developing it in the future.
If you’re struggling with neck pain? Physical therapy can help–and now you know what to expect! Schedule an appointment with us today to get started.
