What is Neck Pain in Kids?
Neck pain can cause serious discomfort and distress in your kids. It can make it hard for them to participate in activities, do their homework, and can even disrupt their sleep.
While neck pain can be caused by a wide range of factors, common triggers include sporting injuries, overuse of mobile phones, poor posture, and vertebral misalignments in the upper cervical spine. Even though neck pain is a common complaint, it’s important to seek treatment so your child can feel better and avoid long-term problems.
Signs and Symptoms of Neck Pain in Kids
The symptoms of neck pain are similar for both children and adults. Neck pain is generally felt along the back of the neck and around the shoulders, ranging from a dull aching throb to a sharp stabbing pain. The severity and duration of neck pain will depend on the underlying cause.
Depending on the underlying cause of your child’s neck pain, they may also experience recurrent headaches, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, insomnia, nerve pain, localized muscular spasms, or postural defects.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Neck Pain in Kids
The upper cervical spine is comprised of the seven topmost vertebrae of the spinal column. These seven vertebrae, especially the two top vertebrae (the atlas and axis), play an important role in supporting the head and facilitating neck movement.
Because children’s upper cervical spines are not yet fully developed, they are much more susceptible to injury and misalignment than adults. As a result, even a minor misalignment in the upper cervical spine can place significant strain on the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spine and neck, potentially leading to the development of postural issues, headaches, and neck pain.
How Our Treatment Works
At Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Boulder, our upper cervical chiropractic specialists use the Blair Upper Cervical technique to help treat children suffering from neck pain. The Blair Upper Cervical technique is a progressive form of chiropractic treatment that aims to restore function to the upper cervical spine, alleviate pain, and reboot the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
Dr. Christina Coblish and Dr. Ryan Moeskau, our in-house chiropractic specialists, have had great success treating neck pain in kids with the Blair Upper Cervical technique. The first step in this treatment process is diagnosing whether your child is suffering from a vertebral misalignment in the upper cervical spine. To do so, Dr. Coblish and Dr. Moeskau utilize a range of advanced 3D imaging tools. These cutting-edge diagnostic tools, such as cone-beam computed tomography scans, allow our team to visualize the upper cervical spine in great detail, identify any misalignments that may be present, and determine the precise treatment needed to correct the misalignment.
If a misalignment is detected, Dr. Coblish and Dr. Moeskau will perform a gentle, low-force adjustment to restore proper alignment to your child’s upper cervical spine. Because the Blair Upper Cervical technique emphasizes gentle and precise adjustments, it is an ideal treatment for kids suffering from neck pain. By removing a major source of stress on your kid’s spine and neck muscles, the Blair Upper Cervical technique can provide significant and long-lasting relief from neck pain.
If you’re looking for a painless, non-invasive, and natural treatment for your child’s neck pain, Dr. Coblish and Dr. Moeskau can help. We service patients across Colorado, including Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Erie, Lafayette, Broomfield, and Denver.