A healthy neck should be strong, flexible and upright. It should be able to support your head and allow you to turn it and look in multiple directions. So, what do you do then when you have neck pain when looking up?

Neck pain when looking up can make it difficult for you to accomplish simple tasks, such as taking an item down from the shelf or enjoying a view of the night sky. Neck pain is often from something temporary like sleeping on your neck in a poor position. Usually this kind of neck pain goes away within a few hours. However, when neck pain lasts for a long time or grows worse, it might be related to something more serious. In these circumstances, it’s time to talk to a health care professional about your treatment options. 

What causes neck pain when looking up?

Long-lasting or intense neck pain when looking up can be related to a number of conditions, including:

• Muscle strains
• Whiplash
• Traumatic injury
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)

Long-lasting neck pain can also be the result of poor posture. This adds strain to your neck that can lead to pain when looking up. 

Treatment for neck pain when looking up

Treatments vary from person to person for neck pain when looking up. Some people need nothing more than a little time and rest. Many others will benefit from physical therapy.

Physical therapists specialize in a variety of treatments that can help reduce and prevent neck pain. At Continuum Wellness, our physical therapists personalize our treatments to the needs of each of our patients. If you visit us for neck pain treatment, you can expect a personalized treatment that will likely include:

• Therapeutic exercises
• Stretches
• Joint mobilization
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Posture guidance
• Patient education — This includes advice on how to get through specific challenges presented by your neck pain.

Talk to Continuum Wellness about treating neck pain

Are you suffering from neck pain that occurs mainly when looking up? Our physical therapists can assist you in recovering from this pain so you can get back to enjoying a normal daily life. Contact our team today for more information about neck pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.