Treatment of upper back and neck pain
- Shachar Or
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
This article is the third of three articles.
A general overview of back pain and its treatment with hydrotherapy can be read here
You can read about lower back pain and its treatment with hydrotherapy here
Upper back, neck, and shoulder girdle pains generally differ from lower back pain in their characteristics, their causes, and the method of treatment.
Upper back and neck pain often results from new or old neck trauma (whiplash), or from non-ergonomic work in front of screens and mice, or sleeping in a position that strains the neck. This back pain tends to recur over and over again, with the classic description being: I made a movement (getting the bag from the back seat of the car) and my back/neck got caught.
Pain and significant limitation of movement in the shoulder area can result from trauma that has damaged the shoulder ligaments, or a frozen shoulder. It can also be the result of sustained exertion or a fall.
I'll ask you what conventional medicine says. For example, a complete tear in the shoulder girdle cannot be repaired, except with surgery. But a partial tear can heal without surgery, and in water you can relieve the pain and speed up the recovery. For another example, a new trauma to the neck may be accompanied by cracks in the vertebrae, and then you should not enter the water, because working in the water may cause irreversible damage. Together we will find out which limitations you have in your daily activities, so that we can improve the missing functionality. We will examine the movements and positions you are in over time: in front of screens, while sleeping, standing and walking.
Working in the water will include active exercises to improve the range of motion of the shoulders, shoulder blades, and neck.
It will also include strengthening the shoulder muscles, and strengthening other muscles as deemed necessary.
Staying in warm water reduces pain, the buoyancy helps with weight bearing, and both of these allow for movements that are difficult to perform outside of the water. Moving the muscles and joints speeds up recovery, because it stimulates blood flow into the aching areas.
Passive work may include moving the shoulder joints, massaging the shoulder blades and neck area, and lengthening the upper spine.
In the video you can see a collection of exercises based on active work by Jahara Clinical, to improve the range of motion of the upper back, neck and shoulders.
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