Understanding Neck pain

Pain presenting in the neck can be an especially scary thing because it’s an area that connects our body to our head and helps in rotating our heads so that we can be aware of our surroundings and keep safe. Neck stiffness, muscle tension, and even headaches and TMJ pain can all coincide with dysfunction in the neck. One thing that often goes overlooked is how the way someone breathes effects the way the neck moves and functions. When we breathe in a dysfunctional way, we begin to rely more on our necks to get air in. This is called accessory muscle breathing. Addressing neck pain is multifaceted and can involve manual therapy, breathing re-training, and exercises to make sure your neck is functioning optimally.

Below are some research articles that you might find helpful regarding neck pain.

If you have any neck pain, or have any questions regarding neck pain, reach out to us by calling or texting 949)787-2014 or simply click the button below to fill out your information and we will contact you.

Therapeutic routine with respiratory exercises improves posture, muscle activity, and respiratory pattern of patients with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial

• Hamid Rezaee Dareh-deh,

• Malihe Hadadnezhad,

• Amir Letafatkar &

• Anneli Peolsson

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Short summary:
Incorporating respiratory exercises into treatment plans significantly improved posture, neck muscle activity, and breathing patterns in patients with neck pain. The study provides evidence that respiratory exercises can enhance traditional therapeutic routines by addressing the interconnection between breathing and the body (posture). These findings suggest combining respiratory exercises with conventional therapies offers a more holistic and effective approach to managing neck pain and its associated functional impairments.

Immediate effects of breathing re-education on respiratory function and range of motion in chronic neck pain

Yeampattanaporn O ,

Mekhora K ,

Jalayondeja W ,

Wongsathikun J

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Short Summary:
Implementing different breathing strategies along with breathing re-education helped to reduce neck pain intensity muscle activity as well as increased range of motion in the cervical spine in subjects with chronic neck pain. This research suggests that a change in breathing patterns can lead to positive outcomes in those with chronic neck pain that may result from diaphragm contraction and reduced activity of the accessory muscles of the neck.

The Effect of Timing of Physical Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain on Health Services Utilization: A Systematic Review

Elizabeth Arnold 1, Janna La Barrie 2, Lisley DaSilva 2, Meagan Patti 2, Adam Goode 3, Derek Clewley 2

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Short summary:
Early physical therapy intervention for acute low back pain may reduce the use of other health services, decrease opioid use, and improve health care efficiency compared to delayed physical therapy. Ultimately, the reduced health care costs associated with early physical therapy intervention after onset of acute low back pain is something to be considered for patients and providers.