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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. The good news is that it is usually caused by joint and muscle problems, not a serious disease. A variety of physical therapy treatments can decrease neck pain.

Neck Pain 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 Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy is to provide each and every patient with a thorough evaluation to determine the best course of action for each individual’s needs and goals.

  • 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.

What are the treatment options for Neck Pain?

PPTS’s expert physical therapists will create a treatment program tailored to your specific needs. Neck pain treatment could include:

  • Patient education
  • Development of home treatment program
  • Manual therapy to normalize your range of motion
  • Hands-on therapy and (soft tissue mobilization) to work on muscle tone
  • Exercises to help normalize movement and increase strength
  • Mobilization, a hands-on technique to move the neck joints and muscles to calm pain and spasms
  • Manipulation, a single, brief, quick, small movement to specific spots on your body

The OSPTKY Difference

Specialty-Level Care

Target your discomfort at the source with a customized treatment plan.

More Board Certified Experts

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Caring Physical Therapists

Gain a team of therapists committed to your recovery.

Neck Pain Treatment Locations

Jeffersonville

590 Missouri Avenue, Ste 201
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
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Hamburg

1868 Plaudit Place
Suite B
Lexington, KY 40509
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Lexington

230 W. Main Street
Suite B
Lexington, KY 40507
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Lincoln County

132 Frontier Boulevard
​Suite 106
Stanford, KY 40484
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Louisville

11330 Maple Brook Drive
Louisville, KY 40241
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Richmond

171 North Keeneland Drive
Richmond, KY 40475
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Performance Physical Therapy

460 East Brannon Road
Nicholasville, KY 40356
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Danville

474 Whirlaway Drive
Danville, KY 40422
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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.

Have more questions? Contact Us

People in Louisville, Lexington & Southern Indiana Trust OSPTKY

Hear from patients that reclaimed their lives.

My therapist listened to me and used my history as her previous patient to treat me and I achieved pain relief after the 2nd session. I'm so thankful for her expertise and kindness.

5 stars

Kathyrn H.

OSPTKY Patient

PT was my last resort and they came through with flying colors. It is amazing how much my pain has gone away in a week. My therapist is extremely knowledgeable and was quick to know my issue. The entire staff is very organized and extremely nice!!

5 stars

Lindsey W.

OSPTKY Patient

Besides the absolute friendliest people in the world... I trust what these professionals say for me to do to become stronger!

5 stars

Nathan K.

OSPTKY Patient

The staff are all 110% top-notch! The goal is to not need to come to PT anymore but the dynamics and atmosphere they have created make you miss them as people! As an athlete, it is common for other athletes to ask for recommendations on who to see upon an injury, majority of the time OSPTKY & crew come up as the go-to solution! Life & aging are tough, they help make it stronger & easier!!!!

5 stars

Tyler W.

OSPTKY Patient
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