NECK PAIN
Neck pain is probably the complaint we hear about most at Peace Chiropractic. And it's not hard to see why — most of us spend a significant part of the day with our heads forward over a screen, a phone, or a steering wheel. The neck isn't built for that position for hours at a time.
The pain itself can show up in a few different ways. Sometimes it's localised — a stiff, achy feeling at the base of the skull or between the shoulder blades. Sometimes it refers into the shoulder or down the arm. Sometimes it doesn't show up as neck pain at all, but as a headache that starts at the back of the head and works its way forward. If that sounds familiar, the neck is usually where we start.
CAUSES
The cervical spine — the seven vertebrae in your neck — needs to move in six directions and support the weight of your head all day. When the joints in that area stop moving properly, the surrounding muscles tighten up to stabilise things. That's where the stiffness and pain come from.
Common causes:
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Desk work and prolonged screen time
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Sleeping in an awkward position
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Old whiplash injuries that were never fully resolved
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Stress — which drives people to hold tension in the neck and shoulders without realising it
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Contact sports and overhead sport like tennis or swimming
TREATMENT
After a full assessment — history, postural check, range of motion testing, and neurological screening where needed — we work on restoring movement in the joints that have become restricted. That usually means chiropractic adjustments to the cervical and upper thoracic spine, soft tissue work on the surrounding musculature, and specific exercises to stabilise and strengthen the area long-term.
The goal isn't just to get you out of pain — it's to get the neck moving the way it should so the problem doesn't keep repeating.
RESEARCH
IS A NECK ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE AND SAFE?
A 2012 Annals of Internal Medicine study found spinal manipulation more effective than medication for acute neck pain. The evidence for chiropractic in both acute and chronic neck pain is well established, and it's considered a first-line conservative treatment option.
How long does it take?
Acute neck pain — a sudden onset, no history of the problem — tends to respond quickly. Longer-standing stiffness or recurring episodes take more time to stabilise, but most people notice meaningful improvement within the first few sessions. We'll give you a realistic picture after your first visit.We're in Terenure, easy to reach from Rathgar, Rathfarnham, Templeogue, Kimmage, and Churchtown. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9am–7pm, Saturday 9am–1pm.
