Kyphosis. Lordosis. Curves. Normal curves. Reversed curves.
Painful curves. Non-painful curves. What are the kind that get your attention?
The painful ones. Layden Chiropractic's, too. Three out of 4 people experience neck
pain at some point in life. (1) And neck pain is expensive in terms of missing
work and paying for care. (2,3) Layden Chiropractic sees Plainville patients who have neck pain, and sometimes Layden Chiropractic will find a spinal
curve alteration as well. What’s the main goal for you when your neck hurts?
The right curve or pain relief? Most of our Plainville chiropractic
patients go for the pain relief. Sound familiar?
So, let’s start with a discussion of the cervical spine
curve. A normal cervical spine is lordotic, a c-shaped curve toward the back. A
“clinically normal" range for cervical lordosis is reported to be 31 degrees to
40 degrees. Researchers report that a curve of less than 20 degrees is tied to neck
pain. (4) Another study concluded that a kyphotic curving – a curve that curves
the opposite direction of the c-shaped lordotic spinal curve - of the cervical spine
was not associated with neck pain. (5) Chiropractors could look to maintain the
curve between 31 and 40 degrees, but neck pain relief is often the more highly
regarded clinical outcome.
Now, a recent study compared the curve of patients’ cervical
spines who had mild, non-specific neck pain to health volunteers with no neck
pain before and after a course of treatment. First of all, the curves between
healthy and painful neck patients were the same! Secondly, would spinal
manipulation treatment change the lordosis, the normal curvature of the neck,
as well as relieve pain? In this study, the curve remained the same. (6) Layden Chiropractic
and most of our Plainville patients regard relief of neck pain a worthy
goal of chiropractic treatment.
So contact Layden Chiropractic when your neck hurts. There are issues that may arise from an abnormal cervical spine, so we can check those out. And, of course, Layden Chiropractic will check the curve of your neck before more importantly
Layden Chiropractic setting the Plainville chiropractic treatment plan
appropriate to relieve any neck pain you have.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."