What is the best treatment for neck and shoulder pain?

Don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about neck or shoulder pain? Think again. According to an article published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), up to 75.1% of the world’s population currently has some form of neck pain. Your likelihood of developing shoulder pain is almost as high. Studies show that as much as 50% of Americans are living with shoulder pain. 

If you have shoulder or neck pain, finding the most effective treatment is likely a high priority. Physical therapy is one option that you should seriously consider if you have these types of pain. But, what exactly is the best physical therapy treatment for neck and shoulder pain?

Why manual therapy is the best physical therapy treatment for neck and shoulder pain

Medical research has been conducted on physical therapy techniques, and many have been shown to benefit people with different types of pain. However, the research done on manual therapy shows that it is the best treatment option a therapist can use for neck and shoulder pain. 

One neck pain study reports that the use of multiple manual therapy methods led to reduced pain in 75% of its participants. Studies done on the usefulness of this technique for shoulder pain are also encouraging. In fact, a review published by the NIH reports that all seven of the studies reviewed reported shoulder pain reduction from manual therapy. 

What other benefits can manual therapy offer?

Besides being the best treatment for neck and shoulder pain, manual therapy can also offer other benefits. Some of these benefits include: 

• Improved range of motion — Range of motion (ROM) is the extent to which you can move your neck or shoulder. One study looked at the effects of two different types of manual therapy on shoulder ROM in adhesive capsulitis patients. It determined that a type of manual therapy called posterior mobilization was the best option for this issue. The study showed that participants improved their shoulder ROM by more than 31 degrees on average after six sessions. 

• Increased function — Studies also show that physical therapy plans that include manual therapy were able to improve neck function. One study reports that manual therapy was able to improve the ability to do normal daily tasks in 70% of its participants. 

Find the best treatment for neck and shoulder pain at Advent Physical Therapy

Do you want to find the best physical therapy treatment for your neck and shoulder pain? Advent Physical Therapy has the help you’re looking for. We offer free screenings designed to identify the source of your pain. Our team can then build you an individualized therapy plan to treat your pain, and this plan could include manual therapy and other beneficial therapy methods. 

Contact our team today for more information about our services or to schedule an initial appointment.