Understanding Neck Pain and Its Impact
Neck pain is among the most common musculoskeletal complaints worldwide, affecting up to 50% of people each year. Many individuals experience stiffness, reduced range of motion, headaches, or radiating discomfort into the shoulders and arms.
Modern lifestyles have contributed significantly to this issue. Spending long hours hunched over a computer, using handheld devices, or driving can place excessive strain on the cervical spine. This forward-head posture is sometimes referred to as “tech neck,” and it increases the load on the muscles, ligaments, and joints supporting your neck.
Other factors that can contribute to neck pain include:
- Acute injuries, such as whiplash from a car accident or a sports-related strain.
- Stress and tension, which often cause muscle tightness.
- Poor ergonomic setups at workstations.
- Degenerative changes, including disc wear or osteoarthritis over time.
If left unmanaged, neck pain can disrupt sleep, make daily activities difficult, and negatively impact overall well-being. Recognizing the early signs and seeking professional care can help prevent chronic issues and support long-term recovery.
Chiropractic Solutions for Neck Pain
Chiropractic care provides a non-invasive, drug-free option to relieve neck pain and restore normal function. Chiropractors use hands-on techniques and tailored care plans to help improve spinal alignment, decrease muscle tension, and promote mobility.
Some of the commonly used chiropractic approaches for neck pain include:
- Spinal adjustments (manipulation): Specific, controlled movements applied to the cervical spine can improve joint motion and reduce discomfort.
- Mobilization techniques: Gentle stretching and movement of the neck joints can relieve stiffness and encourage proper function.
- Soft tissue therapies: Techniques such as trigger point therapy or myofascial release may be used to address muscle tension and tightness.
- Rehabilitation: Chiropractors often prescribe customized exercises and stretches to strengthen neck muscles, improve posture, and prevent future episodes of pain.
- Postural advice and ergonomic modifications: Guidance on desk setup, pillow selection, and daily habits helps support the neck during work and rest.
- Cold laser therapy: Gentle, non-invasive application of light energy that helps reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and support tissue repair. Often used alongside manual therapy and rehabilitation to enhance outcomes for neck pain.
Chiropractic for neck pain focuses on understanding the underlying cause of your symptoms rather than simply masking them. By addressing restricted movement, muscular imbalance, and mechanical dysfunction, chiropractic care aims to relieve neck pain naturally and support your body’s ability to heal.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
- Pain Reduction: Chiropractic adjustments can significantly decrease neck pain intensity.
- Improved Mobility: Restoring spinal alignment enhances range of motion.
- Non-Invasive Treatment: Avoids the risks associated with surgical interventions.
- Drug-Free Approach: Reduces reliance on pain medications, minimizing potential side effects.
Recent Research Supporting Chiropractic Care
Recent studies underscore the efficacy and safety of chiropractic interventions for neck pain:
Chiropractic as a First Point of Contact A 2023 Spine study of 770,000 patients found those who first saw a chiropractor for new-onset neck pain had lower healthcare costs and were far less likely to need imaging, injections or surgery compared to those who first visited emergency departments or specialists.
Combined Spinal Manipulation May Improve Disability A 2024 RCT found that combining cervical, cervicothoracic, and thoracic spine manipulations led to greater reductions in self-reported disability for chronic neck pain than cervical manipulation alone.
Fall Risk Reduction in Older Adults A 2024 observational study showed older adults receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation had a reduced fall risk over 13 months, possibly due to improved stability and coordination.
Posture Matters A 2025 multi-centre study found that forward head posture significantly reduced neck pain recovery rates, highlighting the importance of postural correction in care plans.
Book an Appointment
At Lakeside Chiropractic, we are committed to providing personalized care tailored to your specific needs. Our experienced team employs evidence-based chiropractic techniques to ensure optimal outcomes for our patients.
If you're dealing with neck pain that just won’t ease up, book in for an assessment to find out what might be the causes behind it.
📍 Find us in Joondalup
📅 Book online at https://www.lakesidechiro.com.au/
While outcomes can vary, many patients find this multi-modal approach helps improve over time. If you are having neck pain or any pain ingeneral, feel free to contact us at 9300 0095 to see how we may be able to help or visit our website at https://www.lakesidechiro.com.au/for more information.
📍 Serving the Joondalup & Northern Suburbs of Perth Lakeside Chiropractic is central to the northern suburbs of Perth, located in the City of Joondalup.
If you are in the surrounding suburbs such as Yanchep - 6035, Tapping - 6065, Carramar - 6031, Currambine - 6028, Wanneroo - 6065, Heathridge - 6027, Edgewater - 6027, Gnangara - 6077, Mullaloo - 6027, Padbury - 6025, Kingsley - 6026, Woodvale - 6026, Banksia Grove - 6031, or Duncraig - 6023, our team is here to assist you.
References
- Fenton, J. J., Jerant, A. F., Bertakis, K. D., & Franks, P. (2023). Longitudinal care patterns and utilization among patients with new-onset neck pain by initial provider specialty. Spine, 48(15), 1023–1031. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000004567
- Chaibi, A., Allen-Unhammer, A. J., Vøllestad, N. K., & Russell, M. B. (2023). Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for acute neck pain: A 4-arm clinical placebo randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE, 18(12), e0295115. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295115
- rager, R. J., Cupler, Z. A., Srinivasan, R., Casselberry, R. M., Perez, J. A., & Dusek, J. A. (2024). Chiropractic spinal manipulation and fall risk in older adults with spinal pain: Observational findings from a matched retrospective cohort study. Cureus, 16(3), e303454. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.303454
- Harrison, D. E., Oakley, P. A., & Moustafa, I. M. (2025). New global study reveals forward head posture impairs neck pain recovery. CBP NonProfit. https://cbpnonprofit.com/new-global-study-reveals-forward-head-posture-impairs-neck-pain-recovery/
