by Dr. Max Widmer, Chiropractor

There is hardly anyone around who at some point in their life has not experienced neck pain. The causes of such pain are varied and must be carefully examined. Anything from a tumor, high blood pressure or even an emotional problem can be hidden behind simple neck pain.

A proper diagnosis can only be made through specific questioning, neurological examination as well as differential-diagnostic, radiological and medical laboratory clarification and chiropractic function tests.

Frequently the pain takes the form of a tension headache. This means a cluster of pain localized mainly at the back of the neck and caused more or less by continual spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles. Such pain can, for example, be triggered by emotional tension, an individual wrong head position, eye problems such as the need to wear eyeglasses or the wrong eyeglass prescription, an unstable ligament in the upper cervical vertebrae, degeneration of the cervical vertebrae or pressure on occiput nerves.

Small muscles below the occiput set off referred pain. One-sided headaches, which radiate from the occiput to the eye and forehead, can often be traced back to spasmodic contraction of one or more of four small (suboccipital) muscle pairs.

These four small cervical vertebrae muscles are located at the deepest point inside the neck. They contain so-called trigger points which when activated by local spasmodic muscle contraction - usually in combination with the neck muscles located directly over them - set off the above-mentioned referred pain. The person experiencing the pain finds it difficult to define. Often it is termed a "ghost headache".

Function of the four cervical vertebrae muscle pairs:

These four small cervical vertebrae muscles are especially important to the movement of the two upper cervical vertebrae joints. The muscles execute a bending-stretching movement in the uppermost joint (between the atlas and head) as well as lateral tilting of the head to the left and right (10-degree bending and 25-degree stretching). The joint between the atlas and axis allows a 45-degree rotation to the left and right.

The most effective therapy is specific chiropractic treatment. The chiropractor can use different techniques to suit individual requirements. One very effective manipulation is known as the HIO technique. In addition, people who are susceptible to tension headaches should protect their neck from exposure to any drafts by wearing their hair long or by wearing turtleneck sweaters and/or scarves to protect the upper neck area. It is beneficial to keep the neck in a neutral position, avoiding high or low head positions. Obtaining the right prescription is also important for people who wear eyeglasses. In addition, very warm showering of the back of the head (occipital region) and of the upper cervical vertrebrae is recommended.

Another effective method is to extend the cervical vertebrae. This can be done actively in the doctor’s office or passively at home. For this purpose, either an extension device can be mounted over a door, or a new and highly recommendable cervical vertebrae stretching device is available on the market. This device supports the neck with special cushions and gently extends the cervical spinal column. The tension is easily adjustable using the inflatable balloon and built-in valve.

Please feel free to contact me (mw "at" chiropraktik.ch) if you are interested in receiving information on dealers.

Dr. Max Widmer, Chiropractor