Four FREE health reports for you

Register now for our vital and insightful health updates, and get four free health reports to help you live more healthily.

email to friend Printer friendly

e-news

It's a pain in the neck: but what do you do?

01 April 1990

Neck pain is a common problem, and one that tends to affect more women than men. But how are you going to treat it? The three most popular options are: your family doctor (a 'wait-and-see' approach with advice on ergonomics, possibly including painkillers), a physiotherapist (exercise and stretching) or manual therapy (massage and manipulation, as practised by an osteopath or chiropractor).

To find out which approach was the most effective, researchers from the University Medical Centre in Amsterdam recruited 183 people who had their neck pain for at least two weeks. Each was assigned to one of the three therapies - and the osteopaths and chiropractors were the most effective (by a short neck?) They achieved the quickest results during the first six months of treatment, although all three produced much the same outcome by the end of a year.

So, if you're prepared to be patient and to put up with the pain in the meantime, the 'wait-and-see' approach is as good as any. If not, go and see an osteopath or chiropractor as soon as possible.

(Source: British Medical Journal, 2003; 326: 911-4).

Chiropractic help for neck pain - In 1988 as I was getting ready to retire from my secretarial job, I began having muscle spasms, which placed my head in an abnormal position. In all,...

Neck pain: practice unproven - If you're suffering neck pain, the chances are you'll be treated either with an exercise programme, traction, nerve stimulation (TENS) or ultrasound....

Painkillers: - Who needs drugs when acupuncture works? - If the NSAID painkillers cause gastric bleeding and the COX-2 variety can lead to heart problems, where can you turn? Step forward acupuncture, the p...

Mr Christopher Reynolds (Bristol osteopath and physiotherapist) - PracticeName Bristol osteopath and physiotherapist Discipline Osteopathy Address1 2 Cavendish Road Address2 Henleaze Address3 Town B...

A pain in the neck: the daily routine is as good as special exercise - Quite a few of us will get neck pain sometime in our lives And if we see a physiotherapist we might be advised to start a course of dynamic muscle...

Osteopaths: governing boards - Osteopaths in Britain are finally to be given statutory professional recognition. ...

What works for back pain - The two most effective things you can do to alleviate back pain is to stay active – and so exercising the muscles that support the spine – and to have...

Osteopathy Care - PracticeName Osteopathy Care Discipline Osteopathy Address1 8 devonshire road Address2 Handsworth wood Address3 Town Birmingham Cou...

The British Institute for the Identification & Treatment of Allergic Disorders

How You Beat Asthma
How To Beat Your M.E.
How You Beat ADHD
How You Beat Arthritis
How You Beat Backpain
How You Beat Depression How You Beat Pain
How You Beat The Menopause
How You Beat Heart Problems
WDDTY Health Shop

Register for our health updates and free gifts.
First Name:
Email: