Neck ache may cause greater inconvenience to a person, than he or she can imagine. The pain will not only affect the movement, but also radiate to arms and shoulders, making it a very painful ordeal. Few people may also get headaches triggered by that, which is a sign of probable serious condition, needing immediate medical attention. Neck pain may be triggered due to several reasons, common one being bad posture, periods of extensive stress or trauma and a spinal cord condition affecting the nerves around one’s spine or bad nutrition. Physical therapy is customized for the person in question and never the same for two individuals.
Why do you need it?
The therapy is suggested to strengthen muscles, return mobility and to tide over the pain that is associated with it. Pain relieving therapy may be different from strengthening exercises, but once a person gets relief, it is followed up with strengthening exercises. A general therapy may include cold or heat application, stretching exercises to make muscles more flexible, so that mobility returns and then followed by strengthening exercises, to get over the problem. All this while, proper diagnosis is also recommended by the therapist being consulted. Such diagnosis may include an ultrasound.
Types of Therapies
During a consultation, a therapist asks questions about pain patterns, lifestyle, health history and allergies, and then a special or program is devised based on the pattern experienced. Exercises, massage, electric stimulation of muscles may also be recommended, after an X ray or ultra sound diagnosis, to rule out other conditions that cause the condition. One may also be educated about right posture and ways to avoid neck injuries. Jerks that cause aches should be avoided at all costs.
A physical therapist may teach how to exercise and also monitor your progress, if one opts for individual therapy sessions, to rule out further harm due to over stretching. Isometric exercises, stretches, rotation, cervical flexion, cervical extension and lateral flexion are among the few suggested exercises. These exercises are known to have given relief from stiff necks, reduce pains and return mobility to a certain extent, when performed under supervision.
Depending on the condition and its severity, you are recommended to consult a specialist. You should approach one after affirming the popularity and success rate of the therapist.
Cost and Insurance
A single session of good physical therapy, may cost anywhere between $100 and $150, provided that one opts for individual sessions. This goes without saying that one should buy insurance plans that cover treatment methods in question.
An insurance company, covering this type of treatment may need one to consult a qualified and registered physical therapist. Few companies may need one to produce referral certificate from a primary health care provider as to consult such a therapist. Most insurance plans do not cover chronic conditions or expenses that cross certain limits. It is thus important to read fine print before signing up for insurance. Taking a look at insurance policy rules and regulations before buying a plan is crucial to stay tension-free.
