Neck Curvature: Big Deal? Pain Is.

Kyphosis. Lordosis. Curves. Normal curves. Reversed curves. Painful curves. Non-painful curves. What are the kind that get your attention? The painful ones. Apple Country Chiropractic's, too. Three out of 4 people experience neck pain at some point in life. (1) And neck pain is expensive in terms of missing work and paying for care. (2,3) Apple Country Chiropractic sees Williamson patients who have neck pain, and sometimes Apple Country Chiropractic will find a spinal curve alteration as well. What’s the main goal for you when your neck hurts? The right curve or pain relief? Most of our Williamson chiropractic patients go for the pain relief. Sound familiar?

So, let’s start with a discussion of the cervical spine curve. A normal cervical spine is lordotic, a c-shaped curve toward the back. A “clinically normal" range for cervical lordosis is reported to be 31 degrees to 40 degrees. Researchers report that a curve of less than 20 degrees is tied to neck pain. (4) Another study concluded that a kyphotic curving – a curve that curves the opposite direction of the c-shaped lordotic spinal curve - of the cervical spine was not associated with neck pain. (5) Chiropractors could look to maintain the curve between 31 and 40 degrees, but neck pain relief is often the more highly regarded clinical outcome.

 

Now, a recent study compared the curve of patients’ cervical spines who had mild, non-specific neck pain to health volunteers with no neck pain before and after a course of treatment. First of all, the curves between healthy and painful neck patients were the same! Secondly, would spinal manipulation treatment change the lordosis, the normal curvature of the neck, as well as relieve pain? In this study, the curve remained the same. (6) Apple Country Chiropractic and most of our Williamson patients regard relief of neck pain a worthy goal of chiropractic treatment.

So contact Apple Country Chiropractic when your neck hurts. There are issues that may arise from an abnormal cervical spine, so we can check those out. And, of course, Apple Country Chiropractic will check the curve of your neck before more importantly Apple Country Chiropractic setting the Williamson chiropractic treatment plan appropriate to relieve any neck pain you have.