 Neck pain is ranked as the fourth most common cause of disability worldwide, with an annual prevalence exceeding 30% (1). Acute neck pain may occur suddenly and progress rapidly, which may result in severe pain and detrimental effects on a person’s well-being (2). Do you or a loved one experience acute neck pain? This is an important article that could make the world of difference to you.
“Between 1990 and 2019, the global incidence of neck pain increased by 71.89%” (3) The neck being a flexible structure that supports the weight of the head is susceptible to pain and restricted movement, with approximately half of the affected individuals with acute neck pain continue to experience chronic or episodic pain (4,5). Routine activities which involve stretching, loading and particularly twisting increases the likelihood of developing neck pain (2,6,7). Common sources for presenting symptoms include the cervical discs, facet joints and nerve roots, however, any innervated structure may account for pain (8,9). Neck pain imposes a financial burden, with associated high treatment costs, reduced productivity, work-related challenges for employees and overall quality of life (10). Can chiropractic care help with the management of acute neck pain? There is recent research literature, where they did a systematic review and meta-analysis, 8 randomised controlled trials where 965 patients were looked at. They were investigating the efficacy and safety of spinal manipulative therapy in the management of acute neck pain. It was found that among the research, spinal manipulative therapy was better than the control group in reducing pain and improving cervical range of motion in all measured aspects. There was also a significant reduction in disability scores. No adverse events were also reported (11). So the evidence supports the use of spinal manipulative therapy as a safe and effective intervention for reducing pain, improving cervical range of motion and decreasing disability for patients with acute neck pain (11). Though more studies and larger sample groups would further help substantiate these findings, the evidence so far is quite positive. If you want to find out if chiropractic may help manage acute neck pain for you or your loved ones, have a chat with one of our chiropractors to see how they can assist. “Getting onto problems earlier is vital in getting the best outcome with healing and recovery” 1. Cohen SP. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90(2):284–99. 2. Vernon HT, Humphreys BK, Hagino CA. A systematic review of conserva- tive treatments for acute neck pain not due to whiplash. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2005;28(6):443–8. 3. Cheng, S., Cao, J., Hou, L., Li, S., Sun, W., Shan, S., Zhao, J., Yao, L., Li, X., He, B. and Song, P., 2024. Temporal trends and projections in the global burden of neck pain: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Pain, 165(12), pp.2804-2813. 4. Blanpied PR, Gross AR, Elliott JM, Devaney LL, Clewley D, Walton DM, Sparks C, Robertson EK. Neck Pain: Revision 2017. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(7):A1-a83. 5. Liao LR, Pan HH, Diao YX, Xie Y, Liao MX, Xie YH. Reliability of shear-wave elastography in assessing the stiffness of the nuchal fascia and the thick- ness of upper cervical muscles. Med Eng Phys. 2023;120: 104039. 6. Maher CG. Natural course of acute neck and low back pain in the general population: the HUNT study. Pain. 2013;154(8):1480–1. 7. Vos CJ, Verhagen AP, Passchier J, Koes BW. Clinical course and prognostic factors in acute neck pain: an inception cohort study in general practice. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass). 2008;9(5):572–80. 8. Hage, R., Roussel, N., Dierick, F., Da Natividade, J., Jones, M. and Fourré, A., 2024. Rethinking neck-related arm pain: hypothetical clinical scenarios to differentiate the underlying IASP-defined pain mechanisms. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 32(4), pp.378-389. 9. Kapitza, C., Luedtke, K., Komenda, M., Kiefhaber, M., Schmid, A.B., Ballenberger, N. and Tampin, B., 2023. Inter-and intra-rater-reliability of a clinical framework for spine-related neck-arm pain. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 67, p.102853. 10. Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi SA, Amiri P, Pourfathi H, Araj-Khodaei M, Sullman MJM, Kolahi AA, Safiri S. Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):26. 11. Diao, Y., Liu, Y., Pan, J., Chen, J., Pan, J., Liao, M., Liu, H. and Liao, L., 2025. Efficacy and safety of spinal manipulative therapy in the management of acute neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 14(1), p.97.
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 If your child plays sport, chances are you've experienced it. That moment when they come off the field holding their ankle, clutching their knee, or saying, "I think I pulled a muscle.”
As a parent, it's natural to want to do everything you can to help them recover quickly. But did you know that the old advice of "just rest until it feels better" is no longer considered the best approach? Modern research recommends following the PEACE & LOVE principles to support healing and help your child return to the sport they love safely.[1] 1. Protect It—But Don't Wrap Them in Cotton WoolFor the first couple of days, it's important to protect the injured area and avoid activities that make the pain significantly worse. That doesn't mean staying on the couch all week. Gentle, comfortable movement helps keep joints from becoming stiff and encourages healthy healing. As pain settles, your child can gradually become more active under the right guidance. 2. Swelling Isn't the EnemySeeing a swollen ankle or knee can be worrying, but swelling is actually part of the body's natural healing response. Instead of trying to eliminate it completely, focus on supporting recovery with compression, elevation, and allowing the body to heal. Ice can help make your child more comfortable, but current evidence suggests it doesn't speed up the healing process itself. 3. Don't Rush Back to SportThis is probably the hardest part—for both kids and parents. Children often feel much better before the injured tissues are fully healed. Returning to training or competition too soon increases the risk of re-injury, which can mean even more time on the sidelines. A gradual rehabilitation program that rebuilds strength, balance, and confidence gives your child the best chance of returning stronger and staying injury-free. Remember PEACE & LOVEPEACE (First 1–3 days)
Every Injury Is DifferentMost sprains and strains heal well with the right management, but some injuries need a closer look. If your child can't put weight on the injured limb, has severe swelling, obvious deformity, or isn't improving after a few days, it's important to have them assessed. Talk to one of our chiropractors in sprouting health and see how we could help manage your concerns. Reference 1. Dubois, B. and J.-F. Esculier, Soft-tissue injuries simply need PEACE and LOVE. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020. 54(2): p. 72. |
AuthorBlogs by the team at Sprouting Health Archives
August 2026
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