Presented by Dr. Drew McPhail
Chiropractic Physician

Understanding Your Spine, Part III (July 31, 2008)

"Understand Your Spine, Part I", discussed Spinal Anatomy. "Understanding Your Spine, Part II" discussed Spinal Misalignment, Muscle Weakness, and Structural Disorders of the Spine as "Primary Causes of Neck Pain."

"Primary Causes of Neck Pain" (continued)

Injuries
A significant percentage of misalignments of the neck are caused by injury, which can severely damage fragile neck structures. Neck vertebrae can be broken, dented, or crushed. Whiplash injuries from automobile accidents are a primary reason people seek chiropractic care. Sports and falls also contribute greatly to neck injuries.

Strains and Sprains
When a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn, it is called a strain. A sprain is when ligaments or discs are stretched, ripped, or ruptured. A muscle can be suddenly ripped (strain) and occurs quite often in athletes who overexert a muscle. Ligaments can also be ripped by a sudden effort (sprain).

Muscles can be strained to a lesser degree by repetitiously doing a one- sided activity over a long period of time.

Continuously pulling on the muscles on one side of your neck, such as when working or reading in a bent-over posture, stretches them little by little, and ultimately injures the muscles. The prolonged bending of your head and neck forward stretches your neck muscles, which weakens them and allows your vertebrae to shift out of alignment.

Continued stretching of these muscles can cause them to fray and possibly rip over time. The same pattern of overstretching, fraying, and then ripping can also occur with ligaments. A minor repetitious sprain may lead to a more serious sprain, and ultimately to a rupture of the ligaments.

Muscles are responsible for moving bones and supporting proper posture. When spinal muscles become strained, the spine sags in one direction, causing misaligning vertebrae that can then put pressure on the nerves that leave from the spine to all other parts of the body.

Pressure on nerves can hurt and even become incapacitating. Ligaments hold bones together. If a spinal ligament is stretched or ripped (a sprain), vertebrae will misalign, resulting in irritated nerves and spinal problems. Therefore, preventing strains and sprains of the neck and back muscles is paramount for avoiding more serious neck problems.

Whether caused by an injury, continuous poor posture, strains, sprains, or an infection, neck pain is something that should be taken seriously. Even minimal pain means that something is wrong and needs to be fixed. If it is not fixed, it will likely get worse.

Excerpt from "Neck Pain, You Don't Want It, You Don't Need it", a publication edited by Peter G. Fernandez, DC, to which Dr. McPhail is a contributing author. These books can be purchased at Dr. McPhail's Chiropractic Office at 215 East 5th North Street (Hwy 78). For more information about back and neck pain relief, please visit www.drmcphail.com or call Dr. McPhail at 873-2225