Neck pain
Cervicalgia is a generic term that encompasses multiple conditions with or without an apparent cause of pain. Cervicalgia is multifactorial and not always attributable to a specific cause, such as a traumatic event or overuse injury. Several potential risk factors have been studied in the development of neck pain, including lack of mobility, weakness, poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, but also high-intensity activities and excessive neck strain. Patients can present with a wide range of symptoms, from minimal to severe pain, stiffness, neural symptoms (tingling, burning, weakness, etc.) and other disorders (dizziness, nausea, headaches, etc.). In addition to patient history-taking and physical assessment, an imaging examination is often ordered if structural lesions are suspected. It is important to stress that the presence of anatomical abnormalities of the spine detected by imaging is not necessarily related to the symptoms experienced by the patient, and that false positives are frequent. This is why a holistic approach is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from neck disorders.
Depending on the severity of the condition, very different treatment strategies can be implemented. Conservative treatment is generally the first line of therapy, consisting of rehabilitation, education and pharmacological intervention (e.g. drugs, injections, etc.). In more severe cases, when surgical treatment is deemed necessary, several different procedures may be implemented depending on the patient's needs, and are always discussed between the patient and the medical-surgical staff. At Foxphysio, after receiving a careful visit from one of our specialist doctors, your recovery process will be structured in different stages and will take place in four different environments: the swimming pool, the gym, the movement analysis and re-education room and the field. As with all other pathologies, a global approach (bio-psycho-social), centered on your needs, will be implemented. Initially, the main aim of rehabilitation is to minimize your symptoms. Mobility recovery and muscle activation are generally pursued, as is postural optimization. In the intermediate stage of rehabilitation, regaining strength and stability in the neck and upper limbs becomes the priority, as well as improving the overall quality of your movements to learn how to coordinate them optimally.