In my 35 years of practicing chiropractic I have seen patients of all ages experience neck discomfort. In most cases, chiropractic care has been successful in relieving neck pain. However, at times some of my older patients who did finally get relief were somewhat skeptical going into care as to whether it could help them. A surprising number of them thought they were too old and had been told by previous doctors that “there was nothing that could be done for them and they would have to live with it.” This article will discuss a common cause of neck pain, what can be done to relieve neck discomfort, and recent scientific research related to seniors with neck pain.
Most people who suffer from neck pain are experiencing a mechanical condition. In other words, there is a definite physical problem. Let’s start with some basic anatomy first. The neck bones are called the cervical spine. There are seven bones in the cervical spine, and each bone is called a vertebra. There are joints between each of the vertebrae called facet joints. The facet joints, like all other joints in the human body, allow a defined amount of movement as we go about our daily activities; Not too much movement and not too little.
Moving further into our discussion of anatomy, we all know that there are muscles in the neck. The muscles in the front of the neck are called flexors. The muscles at the back of the neck are called extensors. And there are muscles on the side of the neck that allow us to move our heads from side to side and turn left and right.
There are also nerves associated with the cervical spine. The base of the brain tapers towards the spinal cord which is enclosed and protected by the spinal canal of the cervical vertebrae. On the sides of the cervical spine are openings called intervertebral foramina. Peripheral nerves travel from the spinal cord, exit through the intervertebral foramen, and go to various parts of the body. Some of the peripheral nerves from the cervical spine travel to the muscles at the base of the skull. Others go to the muscles in the front, back, and sides of the neck. In others, peripheral nerves run down to our upper extremities.
Optimally, the vertebrae of the cervical spine are aligned and move correctly. However, if there is a traumatic injury or repetitive overuse stress, the vertebrae can become misaligned and have improper movement. In this case, the facet joints of the cervical spine and the peripheral nerves of the neck can become irritated. This is the most common cause of neck pain. This mechanical abnormality is also the most important reason why people experience tension and migraine headaches.
A recent scientific study in the research journal Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, December 2019 talks specifically about older people with neck pain. It is estimated that one in five people over the age of 70 suffer from neck pain. A recent survey of 288 Australian chiropractors revealed that older people accounted for around a third of their patients, with neck pain affecting around half, often with comorbid headaches. Among responders, the most common treatment approach for older adults with neck pain included a combination of manual therapies (including manipulation and mobilization), specific neck exercises, and self-management techniques.
As the scientific article points out, chiropractors use a treatment technique called manipulation. Chiropractors also use the term “chiropractic adjustment” interchangeably with manipulation. A chiropractic adjustment involves gently, safely, and expertly realigning and providing proper movement of the cervical vertebrae to relieve facet joint irritation to the spinal nerves. This method of treatment is considered the “gold standard” of pain relief for most neck pain sufferers.
As I mentioned earlier, I have treated several older adults who were experiencing neck pain and thought there was nothing that could be done to alleviate their neck condition. However, once chiropractic care began, and these patients began to see an improvement in their discomfort, their skepticism resolved along with their previous discomfort.
Certainly anyone experiencing neck pain would be advised to seek the services of a doctor of chiropractic to alleviate their problem. Seniors would also definitely fall into this category and should not hesitate to pursue this avenue for possible assistance.