People who experience neck pain often turn to chiropractic care for help. Some swear by Miami chiropractors, saying the work they do not only relieves pain, but also addresses the source of their aches, twinges, and throbs. There are over 60,000 licensed chiropractors in the United States today. According to a recent survey, around eight percent of American adults and three percent of kids have undergone chiropractic care to treat their pain. That is a higher percentage compared to those who use other alternative therapies like yoga, massage, and acupuncture.

Chiropractors primarily use their hands to treat muscle, joint, and nerve pain by adjusting the backbone and joints. Adjustments involve the chiropractor applying a sudden, controlled force to a joint, thus pushing the joint beyond the range in which it normally moves. This is done to loosen up joints that move poorly or painfully due to tissue damage or scarring caused by either trauma or repetitive stress. An example of trauma causing neck pain is whiplash, while a repetitive stress injury could be from consistently poor posture.

For neck pain in particular, chiropractic neck adjustments, also called cervical modification, loosen up joints of the cervical vertebrae in the neck. This can reduce pain caused by pinched nerves and muscle spasms. Miami chiropractors use their hands to twist the neck sharply and snap the vertebrae back in to alignment.

Chiropractors just like typical doctors, are trained to diagnose patients through physical exams as well diagnostic tests. This includes taking a careful look at the patient’s medical history as well as performing tests such as x-rays, scans, and blood tests. After carefully studying the patient’s condition, a treatment plan can then be created. Miami neck pain treatment may include neck exercises which you can do by yourself as well as suggestions for a healthier lifestyle. Chiropractors do not prescribe neck pain medication as part of their treatment.