Spine, Back & Neck
Neck Pain
Pain and restriction through the cervical spine, with or without referral.
Also called: Mechanical neck pain, Cervical pain.
Neck pain can involve the cervical joints, discs, muscles and ligaments, and it frequently refers into the head, shoulder blade or arm rather than staying where it started.
The onset can be sudden, such as after sleeping awkwardly or a minor strain, or gradual, building over weeks of desk work or stress, and the pattern of onset shapes how it is evaluated.
Why this matters
Sleep, screen work and driving are the areas people most often report, and neck problems commonly travel with headaches.
Because the neck is involved in so many everyday movements, even a mild restriction can affect concentration and comfort well beyond the neck itself.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
The upper neck sends dense position information to the brain and works closely with the eyes and inner ear, which is why neck problems and balance or headache complaints so often appear together.
Evaluating neck movement alongside eye tracking and balance gives a fuller picture of how the nervous system is being affected, not just where pain is felt.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
Common questions
- Is this something chiropractic care can help with?
- Mechanical neck pain is one of the more common things we evaluate and work with. If findings suggest something outside that scope, we will say so and help you get to the right provider.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Some symptoms need medical evaluation first. If anything in your history or examination suggests that, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Joint Pain & Staying Active — Shoulders, hips, knees, ankles — extremity function matters as much as the spine.
- Achilles Tendinopathy — Pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon, usually load-related.
- Ankle Pain — Pain or restriction at the ankle, often after an old injury.
- Ankle Sprain — Ligament injury from rolling or twisting the ankle.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.