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Neck Pain and Shoulder Pain

The neck is actually a continuation of the spine. In fact, its proper name is the cervical spine. The cervical spine begins at the base of the skull and runs to the top of your shoulders. The neck or cervical spine holds the entire weight of your head (around 15 pounds) on top of only seven tiny bones. The neck is prone to injury because it balances the weight of the head and because it must be flexible enough to allow you to swivel your head from side to side.

Common causes of neck pain include:

Injury or accidents

These accidents, including car accidents, are common causes of neck pain. The sudden force of a fall or hit causes your head to travel in the direction of the force and then rebound. It is the rebound, often called whiplash, that causes the most injury.

Aging

During the aging process, connective tissues stiffen and degenerative problems like osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease can set begin.

Daily life

Job and life stress can cause people to tense their muscles, resulting in chronic neck pain. Poor posture or bad ergonomic conditions at work can cause chronic neck pain that radiates through the upper back and both arms.

A chiropractor can alleviate neck pain by performing a series of manipulations on the cervical spine. He or she can also teach you proper posture and a series of exercises that will keep your muscles strong and flexible.