Neck and shoulder pain is brought by a lot of physical and non-physical factors. Mostly the cause of neck and shoulder pain is poor posture, muscle strain degenerative disc disease, and arthritis.

One of the most common causes of neck pain and shoulder pain is muscle strain. It is caused by overloading the muscles by improper lifting of objects or doing sudden movements without proper warm-up exercises. Poor posture like slouching when sitting or looking down at your phone for a long period can cause shoulder and neck pain also.

Another cause of neck and shoulder pain is degenerative disc disease. It is a disease where the disc between the vertebrae in the spine starts thinning. As a result, this causes pain and discomfort to the body, especially to the neck and shoulders. Degenerative disc disease affects older people but can also be a result of other injuries or other pathological conditions.

Arthritis is another cause of neck and shoulder pain. And the two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative arthritis that causes stiffness and pain in the joints of the body, especially the shoulders and neck. Another type is rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammations in the joints of the body including the neck and shoulders.

Other factors that lead to neck and shoulder pain are pinched nerves, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis. Pinched nerves occur when the nerves of our body get compressed and will cause the feeling of numbness and weakness. A herniated disc happens if the gel-like structure disc of our spine bulges, it puts pressure on our spinal nerve root, and that result in a herniated disc. When our spinal canal narrows, it will decrease the space within the canal; this compresses the spinal cord and then causes pain eventually.

Neck & Shoulder Pain Causes and Treatments KL, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Treatment for neck and shoulder pain depends on the underlying cause. At My Bowen Therapy, we treat a lot of neck and shoulder pain cases monthly. To prevent neck and shoulder pain we should practice good posture, avoid sudden and repetitive movements, and use proper lifting techniques. It is also important to practice stress management techniques, for example, breathing techniques and relaxation exercises. This will help relax the muscles and decrease tension in our body, especially in our neck and shoulders.