Do you regularly suffer from neck pain? As an osteopath in Amsterdam, I am happy to help you relieve tension, restore freedom of movement and address the cause of your neck pain. Whether it is a stiff neck, nagging pain, movement restriction or radiation to your head, shoulders or arms – osteopathy can provide an effective and natural solution.
Neck pain is common and can vary greatly in intensity and duration. It doesn’t always arise from one obvious cause. Sometimes posture, stress, unilateral strain or old injuries play a role. Even after a fall or whiplash, complaints can persist, even if it happened years ago. Therefore in osteopathy we always look beyond the place where you experience your pain.
Osteopathy for neck pain: a different approach
In my practice, I see many people with persistent or recurrent complaints of the neck who have not been sufficiently helped by regular care. Osteopathy focuses on finding and treating loss of movement in the body. This means that I not only look at your neck, but also at how your spine, pelvis, shoulders and even your chest and skull move.
The reason for this is that movement restrictions in other parts of the body can cause increased tension in the neck region. As an emaple restricted breathing from the ribs or an imbalance between the shoulders could cause your pain. Tension in the jaw joint or connective tissue structures can also perpetuate symptoms. By approaching the body as a whole, we address not only the symptoms, but also the underlying cause.
Common causes of neck pain
Neck pain can be caused by:
- Prolonged work behind a monitor (computer, tablet)
- Sleep in the wrong position or a bad pillow
- Stress and tension, manifesting as tense neck and shoulder muscles
- Bad posture, for instance when cycling or driving a car
- Old injuries such as whiplash or falls
- Problems in the spine, jaw, shoulders or back that feed through to the neck
And, of course, symptoms can also be caused or perpetuated by a combination of the above factors. With persistent neck problems, it is important not only to apply symptom relief, but to examine the whole body. As an osteopath, I look at the interrelationship between structures of the musculoskeletal system as well as organs and the nervous system, and how they may affect each other.
What can you expect from a treatment?
An initial consultation begins with a comprehensive discussion of your symptoms, your medical history and your daily functioning. This is followed by a physical examination in which I use my hands to feel where there is tension, decreased mobility or overuse. I work with gentle techniques on muscles, joints and connective tissue to bring the body back into balance.
The treatment is tailored to what your body needs at that moment. Sometimes relief is immediate, sometimes it takes several sessions before the body can fully recover. My goal is always to help you get rid of your neck pain permanently, not to make you dependent on regular treatments. We do not treat every week: we start with a somewhat shorter interval between the first and second treatment, and gradually more time passes between consultations. Until I have made myself redundant and you can go through life free of neck pain again.
Your Osteopath Amsterdam for neck pain
My practice in Amsterdam West is low key and personal. I take the time to try to fully understand your complaint and tailor the treatment to you as an individual. Have you already tried everything against your neck pain, but does it just keep coming back without sufficient imrovement? Then it may be a good idea to investigate whether osteopathy can help you further.
In up to 3-4 treatments there should be an improvement: you will feel more freedom of movement, less pain and therefore more energy.
Want to know what osteopathy can do for your neck pain? Feel free to contact us or make an appointment.
