Combating Neck and Shoulder Pain - Advice from a Chiropractor

Neck and shoulder pain is a fact of life for many people today, especially for those who work in an office environment. Sitting at a desk, looking at a computer all day is hard on our backs and necks, and can lead to chronic headaches in addition to neck and shoulder complaints. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Pain is a sign that something is wrong. You do not need to live with it when a chiropractor can eliminate it for you.

Causes Of Neck And Shoulder Pain

There are many reasons we have neck and shoulder pain. Although a full evaluation by your chiropractor is the best way to identify the source of your pain, some common causes of neck and shoulder pain are:

Posture. One of the biggest causes of neck and shoulder pain is due to poor posture. When we sit, we tend to hunch our backs and lean forward. This moves the weight of the head off of the spinal column and forces the neck muscles to accommodate holding it up. That kind of strain is too much for our necks to handle. The muscles tense up or become over-taxed, leading to headaches and neck pain.

Tension. Tense back muscles will wind up causing pain. Back tension can be attributed to poor posture, stress or spinal misalignment.

Injury. Injuries like whiplash can cause pain in the neck, head, and shoulders without you even knowing it. if you’ve been involved in an auto accident or even ridden an amusement park ride that jerked your head around, you could be suffering the effects of whiplash. Frozen Shoulder is another problem that can arise from injuries, even seemingly minor ones that happen just by playing catch, or from poor posture.

Disc Problems. Problems with the spinal column itself such as pinched nerves, bulging discs and compressed vertebrae can all cause pain in the neck and shoulders.

Treating Neck And Shoulder Pain

A chiropractor has many ways to treat neck and shoulder pain. Depending on the location and cause of your pain, your chiropractor may use one or more of the following methods:

Manual Adjustments. Manual adjustments allow the chiropractor to force vertebrae that have fallen out of alignment back into place. Once they are back in place, they reduce the strain on nearby muscles and ligaments, and the pain stops. The adjustments are gentle, but firm and direct, and are used to restore the joints to their proper position and range of motion.


Massage. Tense muscles must be loosened up before they can be manipulated back into place. To aid in this manipulation, your chiropractor may massage the area before making an adjustment. In addition to the physical effects of massage, it can be relaxing for patients too, which helps decrease stress levels and related tension.


Heat/Ice. Depending on your injury, applying heat or ice, or alternating between the two, can help reduce swelling and speed up healing.


Stretches And Exercises. Stretching is important, particularly if your pain is caused from tense muscles or stress. Keeping your muscles loose and limber will allow them to move easier and function properly, instead of pushing and pulling in ways they shouldn’t.

Just as there are many causes for neck and shoulder pain, there are many ways to combat it. Consulting with a chiropractor can help you identify the source of your pain, as well as the best way to combat it.

by: Dr. Aaron Casselman, DC | Follow Me on Facebook

Pinnacle Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab Center
4185 Wildcat Reserve Pkwy #200
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
(303) 683-5060

Headache Relief - Advice from a Chiropractor

Headache Relief

Many times when we have a headache, we reach for painkillers to make it stop. And it works. Sometimes. But the problem is, painkillers aren’t really treating the headache, they’re only masking the symptoms. Without correcting the underlying cause of the headache, you can be sure your head will be aching again before you know it.

Fortunately, chiropractic procedures can help headache sufferers identify and fix the root cause of their pounding head. In fact, headache treatment is one of the top reasons people seek out chiropractic help.

Common Headache Triggers

You may not realize it, but the source of your headache could very well be in your neck. Along with injuries and poor posture, back and neck tension are common headache triggers. In our information-based society where we are constantly sitting at a computer or leaning in to use a tablet, smartphone or other handheld device, we put great strain on our back and neck. Over time, the strain on the soft tissues of our body causes uneven tension on our spinal column, resulting in overly taxed muscles and ligaments, compressed vertebrae, and pinched nerves. All of these problems can make themselves known through headaches.

Typical Treatments Used For Headache Relief

A chiropractor treats headaches by releasing the built-up tension in the back and neck that is causing the pain. There are many ways to do this. At Botha Chiropractic we use any combination of the following to help our patients who suffer from headaches:

• Adjustments. Manual adjustments are what you think of when you think of chiropractic care. By physically manipulating the spine, we can improve spinal alignment, which reduces the strain and tension on your back and neck that is causing your head to ache. 

• Traction. Traction is another way to help the spine decompress, and take that pressure off your back and neck. A compacted spine can cause pain whether you’re sitting or standing, tense or not. Traction helps counteract that compression in a direct manner. 

• Exercise. You may be surprised when your chiropractor prescribes at-home exercises to help your head. Although targeted at other parts of your body (back, neck, shoulders, core, etc.), these exercises help to strengthen your body, making it easier for the body to function properly, and avoiding the build-up of tension that can cause spinal misalignment or headaches. 

• Massage. Massage is often used in conjunction with chiropractic. Sometimes muscles have been stretched so tightly, they cannot be manipulated effectively until they’ve been loosened up. Massage helps us do that. In addition, sometimes muscle tension alone can cause headaches, without spinal misalignment. In cases like this, a good massage may be all you need to get relief. 

Two of the biggest benefits to chiropractic care as treatment for headaches are that it is long-lasting and all-natural. Chiropractors don’t rely on drugs to mask your pain, instead focusing on proper body mechanics. Once your body is properly aligned, the effects are extremely long-lasting, and you can kiss your headaches goodbye.

by: Dr. Aaron Casselman, DC | Follow Me on Facebook

Pinnacle Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab Center

4185 Wildcat Reserve Pkwy #200

Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

(303) 683-5060