Call us to set up an appointment! 907-747-2726

Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka Addresses the Range of Motion of the Cervical Spine in Treating Neck Pain and Headache

The cervical spine is unique among the curves of the spine. Unlike its fellow thoracic and lumbar curves, the cervical spine houses the spinal cord quite snugly. The diameter of the vertebral canal in which the spinal cord lies varies from 11 to 19 mm while the spinal cord measures from 7 to 14 mm depending on the spine level. If the size of the spinal canal is small and the cord big, a condition known as stenosis exists and makes pain and disability a greater problem. (4-8) Whatever the size, there is not a lot of space for the spinal nerves that leave the spinal cord let alone any disc herniation or bone spur and such that may form. Plus, the cervical spine has to support the average 9-pound head! The cervical spine is amazing. No wonder it fascinates researchers and anatomists and chiropractors like yours at Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka and causes such pain for Sitka neck pain sufferers. Luckily, your Sitka chiropractor understands the cervical spine anatomy and potential painful cervical conditions in addition to the gentle, stretching technique protocols of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management to reduce the pain.

RESEACHERS STUDY THE CERVICAL SPINE MOTIONS

Such cool developments in the area of radiology are now available and may help back pain healthcare providers like your Sitka chiropractor better diagnose and treat neck pain and surgical colleagues create more suitable surgical techniques! New 3D computed tomography imaging permits a look at the cervical spine in various positions in normal volunteers. What did the researchers find happens in the neck with this? Flexion-extension range of motion is greatest at C1-2 and C4-5.  C1-2 is where 70% of all axial rotation takes place, too. C3-4 range of motion for lateral bending is greater than C1-2, C5-6 and C6-7. (1) The use of Cox® Technic for cervical spine pain allows segment-specific treatment of each of the cervical spine ranges of motion to relieve pain and bring back normal ranges of motion as best as possible.

CERVICAL SPINE TREATMENT FOR CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE

The cervical spine range of motion is addressed in patients with cervicogenic headache. When Sitka chiropractic patients come in with a headache, they will often describe limited range of motion. That isn’t unusual. A randomized control trial of spinal manipulation compared to spinal mobilization for relief of cervicogenic headache explained that manipulation and mobilization have similar effects on disability, pain, global rating of change score, and cervical ranges of motion. (2) Our chiropractic care of the cervical spine treats Sitka neck pain as well as associated range of motion issues like acute neck pain.

SPINAL MANIPULATION FOR ACUTE NECK PAIN

Acute Sitka neck pain is a typical condition for which patients will seek help from healthcare practitioners like chiropractors as well as general practitioners (GPs). Medications and/or manual therapy are typical treatments. Researchers state that GPs were sometimes uncertain in referring for manual therapy as they were not sure about effectiveness and adverse events. In a review of randomized controlled trials published about the effect of spinal manipulation for acute neck pain, researchers found that spinal manipulation alone or combined with other therapies was valuable for acute neck pain with no reported serious adverse effects. (3) Your Sitka chiropractor who knows the cervical spine well and delivers safe spinal manipulation works with Sitka general practitioners to help neck pain sufferers find relief.

CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. David Kulla on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes how the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management helps him help his patients with neck pain and headache relief.

Schedule your Sitka chiropractic appointment now. The uniqueness of the cervical spinal curve and the pain conditions involving it merit a unique treatment protocol to take care of pain. At Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka, that protocol is safe, gentle, and effective!

« View All Spine Articles
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."