What a Pain in the Neck! How to Tell If Neck Pain Is Muscular

The human body is a complex system, and sometimes, it can be challenging to know the cause when something isn’t working right. After spending hours sitting at your desk at work, your neck hurts and feels tight, but is the problem muscular or could it be indicative of something else? In this post, you’ll learn how to tell and what you should do about neck pain.

Signs of Muscular Neck Pain

Unlike some other forms of pain, muscular pain usually focuses in the area of the problem. As a result, if your issue is related to the muscle, you’ll feel it in the same part of the body. It’s important not to disregard or ignore muscular neck pain because your body uses pain to communicate that something is wrong with the muscle and needs to be corrected.

Aching, Sore Neck

If your neck and upper back feel sore, your discomfort is likely caused by muscular issues. With too much physical exertion, stress, or emotional distress, you may develop “knots” or trigger points that are especially sensitive.

Muscle Spasms

A sudden tightening of your neck or upper back muscles can significantly limit your mobility and end with a surge of pain. In fact, you may find it difficult to turn your head at all. Sometimes, this symptom can come from a muscular injury, or it can be a nerve or spinal disc out of alignment, but it most often involves the muscles.

What to Do about Muscular Neck Pain

Although many people try to “power through” neck pain or “tough it out” on their own, this inaction often means a longer recovery time. Instead, if you have neck pain or stiffness, you should work with a chiropractor. They can identify the potential cause of your discomfort and treat it accordingly. If the problem is muscular, they won’t waste time with other therapies and can focus on loosening these muscles, easing your pain and restoring mobility and function.

In addition to seeking the help of a chiropractor, you can actively fight against neck pain through avoiding the common causes of muscular stress. For instance, you may need to spend less time texting or looking down at your phone because this posture strains these muscles. Holding your head directly above the collar bone will help your muscles stay pain free and happy.

Regardless of whether your neck pain is muscular or not, you don’t have to grin and bear it alone. Although your body is complex, you don’t have to be confused about what to do. Take action and get the source of your symptoms treated with your chiropractor so you can get back to feeling your best.

About the Author

Dr. Chad Wills owns and operates Wills Chiropractic in Naples. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, he offers treatment for various issues, including neck pain, scoliosis, sciatica, herniated discs, and more. He is certified in Chiropractic Biophysics, the treatment protocol most studied in the chiropractic field. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wills, you can reach out to his team online or call the office at 239-331-6060.