Two bulging neck disc treatment options in Wentzville, MO

Bulging Disc in Neck

There it is again. Just a momentary flash of pain as you move your neck. You’ve also noticed periods of numbness and tingling in your neck, arms and shoulders. If these symptoms sound familiar, you could have a bulging disc in your neck. Physical therapists in Wentzville, Missouri, can help you find effective ways to treat this issue, and two techniques in particular may be included in your treatment plan. 

1.   Therapeutic strengthening exercises

One issue that can cause bulging neck discs is weak neck, shoulder and upper back muscles. This is because weakness in these muscles allows the neck vertebrae to squish together, and this can cause a disc to bulge out and irritate a nerve. To help reduce pressure on a bulging disc, your therapist may recommend therapeutic strengthening exercises like the chin tuck. 

To do chin tucks, sit in a chair with your back straight and your head centered over your shoulders. Using the pointer finger of your right hand, touch your chin. Slowly move your head and neck away from your finger until you get a double chin. There should now be some space between your finger and your chin. Hold this position for five to 10 seconds and then move your head forward to touch your finger again. Repeat this exercise until you’ve completed the exercise 10 times. Doing this exercise several times a day will help strengthen the muscles in the back of the neck that help align your head and shoulders. 

2.   Soft tissue mobilization

Another issue that can cause bulging neck discs is scar tissue that has built up in injured neck muscles. For instance, you could have injured your neck muscles in a car accident. These areas of scar tissue, or adhesions as they’re called, can restrict the movement of neck muscles, and they can also create tension that pulls the neck vertebrae out of alignment and causes a disc to bulge. 

To break down adhesions, physical therapists can use a technique called soft tissue mobilization. The hands-on nature of this technique places it in a category called manual therapy. The key to this therapy method is the combination of deep pressure and muscle stretching. The therapists will use one hand to apply pressure to the adhesion in your neck muscle. Then, they’ll use the other hand to move the neck in various ways to stretch the muscle. When used together, these hand movements allow the therapist to break up the adhesion and help the muscle to move normally, and the return to normal movement can help place less stress on the neck vertebrae and the bulging disc. 

Get a comprehensive bulging neck disc treatment plan at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy 

Excel Sports & Physical Therapy has a clinic right here in Wentzville, and our team is ready to help build you a personalized treatment plan for bulging discs and other neck issues. We also make use of multiple effective therapy techniques in our plans, and some of the methods used in your plan may include: 

Are you ready to take the next step to get our help with your neck condition? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.