CHAPTER 2
ECK PAI
Neck pain is a very common complaint among people of all age groups. It is,
however, more commonplace among people in their thirties and onwards.
Neck pain is mainly due to degenerative or wear and tear changes in the spine
and is most often part of a progressive disease. It means that the underlying
problem responsible for neck pain will slowly but surely get worse in time.
It is therefore of paramount importance that treatment focuses on supporting
the structures of the neck and to prevent excessive stress on the spine.
There are three types of neck pain: mechanical neck pain, referred pain and
radicular pain.
Mechanical neck pain
This is pain that is caused, as the name suggests, by the mechanics of move-
ment. There are muscles, tendons, vertebrae, discs and joints between the ver-
tebrae, nerves and other structures that can cause pain. Mechanical pain is
based on inflammation of these structures and the aggravation of this inflam-
mation by movement.
The main source of mechanical neck pain is, however, the joints between the
vertebrae called the facet joints. This pain is typically increased by certain
movements. Turning and bending the neck is uncomfortable and frequently
associated with crunching sounds and a feeling of stiffness. It is often worse
on the one side. It is frequently associated with referred pain.
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