The neck and shoulders are among the most commonly used joints in the body. The neck plays an important role in the structural support of the head, whereas the shoulder enables mobility of the upper limbs. Due to the stabilizing function of these joints in your daily activities, they are prone to stiffness, pain and injury. KeepMoving.com.sg shares more information below:
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Acute neck pain is one of the most common medical illnesses among desk workers and office employees. This can be attributed to long hours of immobility, fixation in a single position, or poor posture. In turn, this will strain the neck muscles that carry the heavy structures in the head. Thus, it is advisable to move your neck every once in a while to maximize blood flow in the area.
Sudden neck movement is another common cause of injury and pain. Extreme pressure in car accidents, sports injuries or collisions may cause strong force that leads to sudden backward and forward motion of the neck muscles. This would lead to whiplash injuries, wherein the tendons and ligaments in your neck are torn and separated.
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
The shoulder allows diverse movements such as pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying objects. Thus, excessive stretching of the rotator cuff muscles is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. If you move your arms beyond the maximum range of motion of your shoulder joint, tendons and ligaments will be torn.
Infection of the joint may also trigger pain receptors in the area of the shoulder. Due to the immune system that combats the disease-causing agent, inflammation and scar tissue formation may occur. In turn, this will lead to a thicker shoulder joint, which restricts rotation and mobility.
Neck and shoulder pain may lead to serious complications when left untreated. Thus, you must consult highly-skilled specialists who can assess, diagnose and treat your condition. Diagnostic tests will be performed by these experts to determine the most effective treatment modality to relieve the pain.