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Neck Pain

Neck pain is a common complaint and can be attributed to a number of conditions. Neck pain can also cause loss of motion that holds you back from living your life.

Neck pain is a frustrating and difficult symptom of a variety of different conditions and injuries. Severe neck pain can make moving around, working out, or simple activities like going work or walking near impossible. While neck pain can have a variety of causes like a pinched nerve, carrying a heavy backpack too long, or whiplash from a traumatic injury, seeing a physical therapist can be an excellent route towards healing. A physical therapist will provide expert advice on stretches and exercises that can provide relief and strengthen your neck. Beyond assistance with pain relief, physical therapy can also be a helpful tool in learning how to prevent reinjury.

Types of Neck Pain

While there are a large variety of causes of neck pains, there are also a variety of types of neck pain. One of the most common types are muscle pains or spasms. These can be caused by overuse or strain on the neck muscles but they can also be caused by too much stress whether it's mental or physical. Another type of neck pain, which is especially common in patients with arthritis, is facet pain. This can happen when the joints that are part of the vertebrae in your neck wear down the cartilage or are strained too much and cause pain with almost any neck movement. Nerve pain is another common kind of neck pain and it can be very sharp and severe and it can even radiate into your shoulders and back. Nerve pain can be caused by a bad sleeping position or some serious medical conditions so if it persists it is important to seek medical care.

Neck Pain Exercises

Exercising and stretching your neck can be a helpful step towards pain free movement.They can help strengthen your neck muscles and prevent reinjury as well as help improve your mobility and range of motion. Some easy exercises such as shoulder rolls and side to side rotations can be done at home with ease. Some more technical exercises such as resistance exercises and scapula stretches should be done under the instruction of a trained professional such as a doctor or physical therapist.

Find Neck Pain Solutions In Oklahoma City

At Physical Therapy Central we provide attentive care and offer personalized solutions for your neck pain. Neck pain can be a debilitating symptom and we are here to help you heal and regain your strength and motion.

Oklahoma Neck Pain Relief FAQs

  • The duration of pain can depend on several factors: prior history of the condition, the severity of symptoms, age, general health status, and how quickly you seek care after the onset of pain. Our goal at Physical Therapy Central is to provide each and every patient with a thorough evaluation to determine the best course of action for each individual’s neck pain relief.

    If you have additional questions that you would like to ask a Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist, feel free to e-mail us at [email protected].

  • It certainly can. Spinal nerves can be impinged by several factors such as arthritis, age-related disc wear-and-tear, and/or herniated or bulging discs caused by trauma or degeneration. Spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spaces in which the nerves travel, can also cause pain in your arms and shoulders. Less common but more serious would be a benign or malignant tumor which could be impinging the nerve root.

    A skilled physical therapist will be able to differentiate which type of pain you are having during your evaluation.

  • It sounds simple, but the easiest thing to avoid is the trigger that may be causing your neck pain. Some people may know the exact trigger – long hours on the computer or breastfeeding, which causes them to look down for long periods of time. Others may not know what is causing their pain but, generally speaking, long periods of time in one position should be avoided. Sleeping on your stomach is an example of a position that can compromise your neck for an extended period of time.

    Our joints do not like to be still for any long period! Synovial fluid needs to flow in and around our joints in order to keep inflammation and pain under control. Gentle and non-aggravating range-of-motion exercises are typically recommended, and ice and heat can be used as needed. We also recommend taking a good look at your workspace and sleeping positions and seeing if you can make any tweaks to prevent further or future pain. We do not recommend keeping still… sitting is the new smoking!

  • Generally speaking, if you have experienced any type of spine pain that has persisted for more than 5-7 days, it would be beneficial to see a skilled physical therapist for a proper evaluation. This can help determine your source of pain and whether or not you would benefit from physical therapy or if you need to be referred on for advanced imaging.

    We recommend seeing a PT first because research has shown that the sooner you seek care from a qualified PT, the better outcomes you’ll have and the less expensive your overall cost of care will be. There has been a lack of research correlating early imaging results and improved outcomes.

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Neck Pain Treatment Locations

Ada – Physical Therapy Central

1188 North Hills Centre
Ada, OK 74820
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Ardmore – Physical Therapy Central

2015 W Broadway St
Unit 3A
Ardmore, OK 73401
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Bethany – Physical Therapy Central

8006 Northwest 39th Expressway
Bethany, OK 73008
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Blanchard – Physical Therapy Central

845 E. Veterans Memorial Hwy
Blanchard, OK 73010
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Chickasha – Physical Therapy Central

304 South 29th Street
Chickasha, OK 73018
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Choctaw – Physical Therapy Central

14890 SE 29th Street
Suite 101
Choctaw, OK 73020
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Davis – Physical Therapy Central

201 W. Main St.
Davis, OK 73030
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Deer Creek – Physical Therapy Central

7115 NW 150th
Suite 4
Oklahoma City, OK 73142
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Edmond East – Physical Therapy Central

3633 E 2nd St
Edmond, OK 73034
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Edmond North – Physical Therapy Central

1260 West Covell Road
Ste 100
Edmond, OK 73003
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Edmond West – Physical Therapy Central

15101 Lleytons Ct
Edmond, OK 73013
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Elk City – Physical Therapy Central

1007 N. Main
Suite 102
Elk City, OK 73644
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Guthrie – Physical Therapy Central

108 West Harrison Avenue
Guthrie, OK 73044
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Kingfisher – Physical Therapy Central

105 North Main Street
Kingfisher, OK 73750
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Lawton – Physical Therapy Central

910 SW 38th St
Lawton, OK 73505
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Lindsay – Physical Therapy Central

301 East Cherokee Street
Lindsay, OK 73052
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Midwest City – Physical Therapy Central

1124 South Douglas Blvd
Midwest City, OK 73130
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Moore West – Physical Therapy Central

11521 S Western Avenue
Suite A
Oklahoma City, OK 73179
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Mustang – Physical Therapy Central

433 E Hwy 152
Suite 101
Mustang, OK 73064
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Newcastle – Physical Therapy Central

3699 Northwest 32nd Street
Newcastle, OK 73065
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Nichols Hills – Physical Therapy Central

6600 N. Olie Avenue
Suite B
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
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Noble – Physical Therapy Central

307 North Main Street
Noble, OK 73068
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Norman – Physical Therapy Central

440 Merchant Drive
Norman, OK 73069
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Norman West – Physical Therapy Central

2821 36th Avenue Northwest
Suite 130
Norman, OK 73072
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Oklahoma City Midtown – Physical Therapy Central

815 NW 12th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
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Oklahoma City South – Physical Therapy Central

8200 S Walker Ave
Suite 103
Oklahoma City, OK 73139
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Oklahoma City Southeast – Physical Therapy Central

6001 South Sooner Road
Suite D
Oklahoma City, OK 73135
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Oklahoma City Southwest – Physical Therapy Central

10740 South May Avenue
Suite 111
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
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Pauls Valley – Physical Therapy Central

34637 Airline Road
Pauls Valley, OK 73075
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Shawnee – Physical Therapy Central

3930 North Kickapoo Street
Shawnee, OK 74804
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St. Anthony North – Physical Therapy Central

6201 North Santa Fe Avenue
Suite 1000
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
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Stillwater – Physical Therapy Central

1405 South Western Road
Stillwater, OK 74074
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Oklahoma City Village – Physical Therapy Central

10908-C N May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
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Yukon – Physical Therapy Central

800 Garth Brooks Boulevard
Suite 115
Yukon, OK 73099
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:

    1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
    2. You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
    3. You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
    4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
    5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.
  • We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.

  • If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.

  • During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what the cause of your pain is. This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain.

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