There are a number of misconceptions about neck pain, which is why getting the right information from credible sources is so important. The American Back Center is the best chiropractic clinic in Chicago. We wish to clarify 6 common misconceptions about neck pain that a lot of people have.

Myth #1: Neck pain is ONLY caused by neck muscles

No. You should understand that what we call “the neck” only consists of 7 vertebrae out of the 24 that form the spinal column. Muscle tightness in the neck has to do with the much bigger pattern of muscle contraction close to the body’s center. The paravertebral muscles of the spine run from the tailbone till the base of the skull.

If the muscles on the back of the body, from the neck right down to the pelvis are tight, then this has a direct bearing on the neck. The posture plays an important part and when the body is hunched or slumped most of the time, neck pain is never too far away. So to prevent neck pain, you must take care of the entire body, the back and the front.

Myth #2: Neck problems are a result of old age

It does seem to be an obvious thing to connect neck problems to old age, but there is no real evidence to prove the correlation. Neck problem occurs when muscular dysfunction is allowed to remain unchecked. This is more a result of lack of movement and lack of exercise than because of aging. An physically in-active 30-year old who spends most of his time hunched on a laptop, is more likely to have neck problems than a fit 70-year old who goes walking every morning and keeps herself busy in the garden.

Myth #3: Neck pain occurs because of weak neck muscles

No, painful muscles are rarely weak. In fact muscle pain occurs because the muscles are so tight that they do not release fully and cannot move efficiently. That’s because they lack oxygen and the blood circulation is not as it should be. The muscles need to be relaxed, not strengthened; the tension within them must be removed. Learn to relax not just the neck, but also the back, shoulders and the hips, use the right posture while walking or sitting, and be efficient with your body movements. The neck pain will be gone soon.

Myth #4: Rest is the best relief for neck pain

While it is true that a short period of bed rest does help to relieve severe neck pain, you shouldn’t take more a day or two of bed rest, as inactivity would only cause more pain. This is because inactivity leads to muscle wasting, which has unintended effects. That is why most physicians recommend active physical therapy and exercise to those with neck problems.

Myth #5: The spine is very fragile

No, not really. The spine is actually a very strong structure which is given adequate support by the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons. However, the spine requires proper conditioning such as stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular exercise. Poor posture and body mechanics can cause more problems to the spine leading to neck and back problems, as does lack of sleep and physical exhaustion.

Myth #6: If the doctor hasn’t found anything wrong, the pain does not exist

Sometime physicians are unable to find the source of the pain, but that doesn’t mean that it does not exist. Chronic neck pain can be caused by psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression. It can be caused by lack of sleep. It is important to treat the pain proactively. Chiropractic care is a highly effective alternative treatment when modern medicine does not offer a solution to the chronic pain.

Dealing with ongoing neck pain requires a long-term solution. At the Chicago-based American Back Center, we provide you with the most up-to-date, in-depth and reliable information for your neck pain. We also provide the most appropriate treatment for your pain. Our goal is to help you get healthy and stay healthy ASAP. So if you’re suffering from neck pain, call us at 312-939-4121, e-mail info@americanbackcenter.org or fill up this contact form to book an appointment TODAY!

If you have neck pain

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Chronic Shoulder Pain | American Back Center

If Shoulder pain is left untreated, it can lead to something serious, and become a chronic problem. When your shoulder pain becomes chronic, it would be difficult for you to carry out your daily activities, such as carrying the groceries or lifting weights at the gym. You need help!

Chiropractic care is generally sought out by people who are looking for treatment for back pain or neck pain. What you probably didn’t know is that chiropractors, such as those at the Midwest Chiropractic Care Center, are also trained to adjust and treat extremities such as the knees, joints and the shoulders.

Visiting a chiropractor is very important and it is certainly a far better option than trying to treat yourself by resting or taking painkillers. That won’t heal the pain, and while it may give you temporary relief, it actually may make the pain worse in the long run. Also, painkillers are addictive and can lead to dangerous side effects.

Shoulder pain is generally caused by irritation in the joints. On other occasions, it is caused by tissue irritation. One of our pain management specialists can diagnose the problem accurately to start a proper treatment.

An MRI scan of the shoulder can be taken to identify the pain points. Our chiropractor would use techniques such as manipulation of the spine to offer relief for the shoulder pain. The treatment depends on the cause of the shoulder pain.

Our chiropractic then uses adjustments and other related treatments to restore the shoulder mobility and reduce the pain. They look at your overall health, and focus on your lifestyle and work habits rather than just on the shoulder. Chiropractic care involves taking a more holistic approach to pain medication.

They identify the cause of the shoulder pain and discuss your symptoms with you. In particular, our chiropractor will want to know about your prior injuries and health history, as well as your leisure activities.

Rest is in important part of the treatment. Rest allows the inflammation to subside to an extent. However, prolonged immobilization of the shoulder can lead to other complications such as frozen shoulder.

Application of ice and heat can help. Our pain management specialists usually recommend along side treatmet the use of ice packs and heat pads to offer relief for the shoulder pain.

Our pain management therapist can put you through a series of stretching exercises to stretch the certain muscles and tendons that surround the joint. This has to be done carefully, because if the right form is not followed for the exercises, it can make things worse for you.

At the American Back Center we have been providing quality treatment for neck, shoulder and back pain for over a decade. Please contact us today to book an appointment one of our experienced team of pain management specialists.

American Back Center

• 122 South Michigan, #1265
• Call us: 312-939-4121

See The front of our website for more information – or visit our youtube video to learn about Spinal Decompression and how it can help you heal faster

Tip #4: Perform rhythmic stabilization exercises – Performing rhythmic stabilization exercises in a combination with dynamic exercises helps to restore the joint co-ordination and proprioception. This is sometimes lost following a surgical procedure, which leads to shoulder pain.

Tip #5: Strengthen your grip – There is a very strong neuromuscular connection between the shoulders and the hands. Developing a strong grip can minimize the shoulder pain and leads to stronger and more powerful shoulders. There are a number of exercises that can help strengthen your grip. Your therapist will tell you all about them. Also, there are some very cheap but effective devices that can be used to strengthen the grip.

Tip #6: Rest is equally important – To heal shoulder pain, you should give the shoulder tissues time to recover and regenerate. The shoulder tissue has to be given time to adapt to the new exercises performed by you daily. Give yourself 2 to 4 minutes of rest in between each set of exercise. Your movements should be balanced and under control.

If you have shoulder pain, neck pain or back pain please feel free to contact our highly trained team of pain management specialist in downtown Chicago, for an appointment to help you access and fix the underlying problem the is causing you pain.

GO TO OUR HOME PAGE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR LATEST TECHNOLOGIES TO DEAL WITH SHOULDER PAIN AND HOW TO HEAL YOU FASTER

American Back Center
122 S Michigan Ave, Suite 1265, Chicago
312-939-4121
info@americanbackcenter.org

Shoulder pain hurts a lot and can affect your lifestyle if you don’t do something about it.
You can start by seeking treatment for shoulder pain at the American Back Center. Some of the best pain management specialists in Chicago work at our center. You can also get treated for back pain, neck pain and other body pains here.

Here are some tips to help start to heal your shoulder pain naturally, and effectively.
Tip #1: Rehab exercises – Seek out from a physical therapist how to perform simple exercises specific to your injury for your shoulder pain. All shoulder rehab exercises should be performed as slowly as possible. These exercises reprogram your body’s neuromuscular system, which is why the movements need to be performed deliberately.

Tip #2: Have your neck, spine, hips and breathing examined by a chiropractor – Any injury to the neck or the spine can affect movements in the rest of the body. That’s why it is so important to get your neck, spine and hips examined by a chiropractor. The hips are important because of the fascial connection that runs from the back muscles down to the buttocks. The chiropractic will also observe your breathing to see if there are any obstructions or difficulties of any sort.

Tip #3: Maintain a good posture while carrying out your day-to-day activities – It is important to keep a good posture always while doing your daily activities. The right posture helps to restore the joints back to neutral position, at which your shoulders operate at optimal capacity

Shoulder pain affects your mobility and strength and prevents you from carrying out your routine everyday activities.
Six amazing facts about shoulder pain:

Fact #1: Did you know that 9 percent of all adults in the USA suffer from chronic shoulder pain. That’s according to the World Health Organization. Phew – that means 1 out of every 10 people in the USA suffers from it. That’s big.

Fact #2: If you have shoulder pain, it can be a consequence of an injury or aging. We can do our best to protect ourselves and slow down the aging process, but as we get older the soft tissues in the shoulder break down, which causes the pain. Injuries are usually the cause of shoulder pain for younger people, especially for athletes. If you play sports such as football, tennis, baseball, basketball or ice hockey, you are at risk. Overuse of the shoulder can cause a degeneration of the shoulder tissues, leading to the pain.

Fact #3: Your shoulder pain could be a result of a disease that you may not know about as yet. If you experience tightness in the shoulder muscles and extreme shooting pain that travels down to your arm, it could be because of an underlying disease, such as a spinal disorder, diabetes, heart disease or liver disease. If it’s because of a disorder of the spine, a pain specialist at American Back Center can assess and help set it right.

Fact #4: If you find your shoulder pain hard to bear, consult with an orthopedic surgeon. They can assess and diagnose the problem and identify the cause of the pain. They examine your medical history and may suggest a surgery if the pain is too severe, or recommend chiropractic care, for a more natural and gradual recovery.

Fact #5: One basic treatment for shoulder pain is called RICE, which means, rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This method helps to bring down the inflammation, so that you can heal faster. Avoid using the shoulder as much as you can after the occurrence of the pain. Place ice on the shoulder for 20 minutes, around 6 times a day. Use a compression wrap to prevent the swelling.

Fact #6: Another cause of shoulder pain is dislocation, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff injury. If your shoulder has been dislocated because of an injury, visit a doctor immediately. Frozen shoulder is more difficult to heal. You will be given anti-inflammatory medications and recommended physical therapy. For rotator cuff injury, surgery is a possible option. We can help access your problem and put on on the path to the right treatment program.

If you have shoulder pain, neck pain or back pain please feel free to contact our highly trained team of pain management specialist in downtown Chicago, for an appointment to help you access and fix the underlying problem the is causing you pain.

American Back Center
122 S Michigan Ave, Suite 1265, Chicago
312-939-4121
info@americanbackcenter.org