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Neck Pain Relief Massage & Treatment in Singapore

SIN KANG TCM

Neck pain can be caused by many factors, such as injury or overexertion during active exercise. However, for many of us in Singapore, it is often caused by poor posture, sleeping positions, or just plain stress.


Sitting at your computer or office desk for the whole day can cause weakened or stagnant blood flow in your neck, shoulder, and back. Sleeping in the wrong position or accumulation of stress can both contribute to the same effect. This can result in neck pain that may even persist over time and turn into a chronic condition if treatment is not sought out.


Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments for neck pain include Tui Na massage, Acupuncture, and Cupping. Here at Sin Kang TCM, we personalise each treatment session to ensure that your specific pain relief needs are met. Our physicians have engaged in TCM practice for over 20 years and can provide a range of treatment options to manage neck pain. Have further queries about TCM treatments? Book an appointment with us today for more information.

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What Causes Stiff Neck and Neck Pain?

Identifying the leading causes of neck pain and stiff neck symptoms is crucial to determining an appropriate treatment for neck pain relief. Determining the specific cause of neck pain enables your therapist to identify which type of treatment is suited for your condition. Some of the common causes include:

1. Poor Posture

Poor posture can cause neck pain because it puts too much weight on the cervical spine. It can also strain the neck muscles and ligaments, building pressure on your head and neck muscles, which can then lead to pain. Improper postural habits, such as working on your laptop while sitting on your bed, are among the common postural behaviors that can contribute to neck pain and aches.

A person’s age is one of the factors leading to bad posture. As we age, the muscles tend to weaken, making them susceptible to poor posture. This often leads to habits like slouching, contributing to body aches and pain.

2. Improper Sleeping Positions

Improper sleeping posture often brought about by sleeping on the stomach, can lead to neck stiffness or a sprained neck. While lying on your stomach may initially seem to relieve your body after a long, tiring day, it actually places your neck in a non-optimal position. Doing this habitually and for extended periods can cause the neck to twist and get misaligned from the spine.

Lack of proper support when you're sleeping is also a cause of neck pain. Sleeping on a mattress that does not offer sufficient support can lead to the misalignment of the spine. If your pillow is too fluffy or too high, it can also result in neck stiffness.

3. Repetitive Motions and Overuse

Repetitive motions such as carrying heavy objects or repeated head movements can cause neck pain. Athletes often experience neck muscle strain due to the overuse of their muscles when partaking in strenuous activities.

4. Stress

Stress may not be a direct cause of neck pain, but it can bring out any underlying neck muscle pain you are experiencing. This is because when you’re under stress, it causes neck muscle strain and tightening, leading to chronic neck pain. Tensions that build in the neck because of stress can lead to headaches and joint pain, too.

5. Past Injury

Past injuries, such as whiplash from car accidents, sports injuries, or falls, can lead to chronic neck pain. These incidents often damage muscles, ligaments, and vertebrae in the neck, resulting in long-lasting discomfort. Such conditions may necessitate appropriate pain management treatments in Singapore to relieve the pain and aid in the recovery journey.

6. Other Health-Related Conditions

You may also experience neck pain due to other underlying health-related conditions, including:

Cervical Herniated Disc or Ruptured Disc

A cervical herniated disc or ruptured disc is also a cause of neck pain. This health condition occurs when one of the discs in the spine’s C5 to C7 areas prolapses. Nerves are compressed because of a ruptured disc causing neck aches.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a condition that can bring about neck pain. It’s a health condition where one of the vertebrae (spinal bones) slides forward on top of the bone that can press on the spinal cord's nerves. Although it usually happens in the lower back, it can also occur in the neck area, often causing chronic neck pain.

Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Neck)

Cervical spondylosis, also referred to as the arthritis of the neck, stems from the wear and tear of cervical spine discs and joints. This degenerative process often leads to neck pain and stiffness, impacting nerves and the spinal cord. Common in ageing, repetitive strain, and past neck injuries, cervical spondylosis highlights the complexity of neck conditions and the diverse range of treatment considerations they entail.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spaces within your spine narrow, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. This condition often occurs in the neck and lower back. When it affects the neck, it can lead to neck pain, numbness, muscle weakness, and problems with balance or walking. Spinal stenosis is commonly caused by wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis.

What Are the Symptoms of Neck Pain?

Some of the common symptoms of neck pain are soreness and stiffness. You may also feel a sharp or stabbing pain in a localized area of your neck. Experiencing aches in your neck, shoulders, and arms is also another symptom of neck muscle pain. Headaches, numbness, and difficulty in lifting or gripping objects are also common neck muscle strain symptoms, as pain from pulled neck muscles can radiate to other areas such as the head, arms, and shoulders.

How to Diagnose the Source of Neck Pain?

All patients in Singapore must undergo a registration process before they can consult with a TCM specialist. The physician will study the complete medical and pain history you’ve provided before offering a suitable neck pain treatment programme.

Assessment of your condition may involve identifying where you feel neck pain and what type of movements aggravate the pain you’re experiencing. Through an in-depth consultation, the physician can determine exactly where your pain is coming from, whether it is from facet joints, discs, or the neck’s muscles or ligaments. This enables the physician to develop a tailored pain management plan that provides you with effective neck pain relief.

Adopting a holistic perspective is the key factor differentiating TCM treatments from Western medical diagnostic processes.

Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Four Pillars of Diagnosis

More specifically, the TCM approach is based on the following four pillars:

1. Looking

This method involves examining the patient's appearance, such as the colour and lustre of the skin and face. Your TCM specialist may also observe the eyes and ears for signs of imbalances. Tongue assessment and observation of the patient's movements and behaviours are also part of the process. Collectively, these methods provide insights to formulate a suitable treatment plan to relieve neck pain.

2. Listening/Smelling

This involves listening to the patient's voice and breath, including different sounds, such as shouting, laughing, or groaning. Each sound type correlates with different organs, offering insights into potential ailments. Smelling, though less common, may help in the evaluation of your condition and identification of the causes of the neck pain.

3. Palpation

Palpation, or the practice of feeling the pulse, is another diagnostic method in TCM. The TCM specialist will feel the pulse at several key points, such as the carotid pulse for neck pain. The characteristics of the pulse – be it rapid, slow, or deep – offer insights into the nature of the neck pain, aiding in the designing of a tailored approach to pain relief.

4. Questioning

The TCM specialist may then ask questions about various aspects of your health, including neck pain, energy levels, sleep patterns, digestion, and emotional well-being.

Besides the four basic steps above, these diagnostic methods may be employed to help your TCM specialist gain a comprehensive understanding of your condition.

1. X-Rays

X-rays are a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying the source of neck pain. They provide clear images of the bone structure in the neck, helping to detect issues such as fractures, spinal degeneration, or misalignments.

2. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI scans are another pivotal diagnostic tool for neck pain, offering detailed images of both bone and soft tissues. They can help detect herniated discs, nerve root issues, and spinal cord problems that might be causing neck pain.

By identifying the specific root causes of your pain, these tools can guide the selection of an appropriate neck pain treatment approach to provide targeted relief.

Non-surgical Neck Pain Treatments in Singapore

1. Medications

Medications, such as over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, are often used to manage symptoms of neck pain. They reduce inflammation and ease discomfort, providing temporary relief from the pain associated with various neck conditions.

2. Applying Ice or Heat

Applying ice to the neck for up to 15 minutes may help reduce any swelling and numbness. Meanwhile, heat therapy is known to relax stiff muscles, improve blood flow, and relieve tension. Alternating between cold or heat treatments can potentially alleviate neck pain symptoms, offering a simple method for managing discomfort.

3. Acupuncture

Chinese acupuncture involves the strategic insertion of fine needles into specific body points that is believed to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. This non-surgical treatment method is known to provide neck pain relief by restoring balance to the body's energy flow.

4. Massage Therapy

Neck massages in Singapore are often recommended as a non-surgical treatment for relieving neck pains. With the correct massage techniques, the gentle manipulation of neck muscles and tissues can help ease tension and promote relaxation. The improved blood flow and muscle relaxation achieved through massage can also assist in reducing neck discomfort and supporting mobility.

5. Mindful Meditation

Mindful meditation is a self-guided approach that can potentially aid in neck pain relief. It focuses on relaxation and controlled breathing, potentially easing stress-induced muscle tension in the neck. Engaging in this practice may reduce chronic neck pain and potentially provide back pain relief for individuals with such concerns.

Why Should You Try TCM as a Non-surgical Treatment for Neck Pain?

TCM neck pain treatments in Singapore include but are not limited to Cupping, Tui Na neck massage, and acupuncture. These types of pain management programmes are non-surgical and minimally invasive methods you can try to help find relief from constant neck aches and neck muscle strains.

Each TCM treatment has its method of addressing neck pain, but all of them can target points and areas in the body that are critical to promoting adequate blood flow and circulation. As a result, these treatments may improve your body’s healing process by bringing oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to the neck area’s surrounding tissue.

How Does Sin Kang TCM Provide Neck Pain Relief?

Neck pain relief treatments may involve a combination of pain management methods:

Tui Na Neck Massage

Tui Na, which translates to “push and pull,” is a traditional Chinese massage therapy that can potentially offer relief from neck pain symptoms as well as help maintain your daily overall health. It refers to a variety of TCM bodywork and massages. This treatment uses dynamic acupressure techniques coupled with Chinese medical principles to loosen up and remove Qi blockages at key points in the body.

This type of neck massage can also be used to address areas of the neck with disharmony patterns. Tui Na targets and applies pressure on acupoints using the hands, fists, palms, and fingers instead of needles. Our Tui Na therapists in Singapore can adjust the intensity of each session to suit your pain tolerance level and ensure you are comfortable throughout.

Acupuncture Neck Pain Treatment

Chinese acupuncture is one of the popular TCM services in Singapore and has a wide range of health benefits. It is a non-invasive TCM treatment that accesses the neck area’s pressure points through a needle. The insertion of a hair-thin needle will hardly cause any perceptible pain or discomfort but does plenty to aid and signal your body to stimulate blood circulation and where to direct it. This stimulation is responsible for healing and relieving your sprained neck or any other neck pain.

Acupuncture treatment helps restore normal blood flow by stimulating blood circulation within the body, releasing natural ‘pain killer’ hormones and enzymes such as endorphins, immunity cells, and neurotransmitters. This clears Qi blockage in the body, potentially contributing to long-lasting neck pain relief.

Cupping for Neck Pain Relief

Many Singaporeans have embraced Cupping for its pain relief and rejuvenation benefits. Cupping treatments involve producing a suction force to aid in stimulating blood circulation to help alleviate neck pain. It uses heated glass or bamboo cups to pull the skin, removing any blockages to blood circulation and stimulating blood flow. This draws the blood into the area where there is neck muscle pain. When blood flow and circulation are stimulated, they can restore Qi flow in affected areas of the body and help stimulate the body’s natural healing process. Aside from relieving neck pain, Cupping can also be used for addressing other common ailments, including high blood pressure, back pain, or nasal congestion.

Neck Pain TCM Specialists

For enhanced outcomes in your neck pain therapy sessions, you need a trusted and qualified practitioner to administer the TCM treatments. It is advisable to seek board-certified TCM practitioners who specialise in neck pain treatment in Singapore.

At Sin Kang TCM, our board-registered TCM specialists have helped address numerous cases of patients with neck stiffness, neck muscle pain, sprained neck, and other conditions involving neck pain, some even have said to see improvements within one session.

Stephanie

TCM Physician

TCM Registration No. T1603379J

Expertise: Physician Stephanie is a registered TCM Physician. She specialises in pain management, utilising her skills and insights in using needles to help relieve neck pain.

Years of Practice: 13

Credentials: Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

David

Senior Therapist

Expertise: David, a Senior TCM Therapist, has over 20 years of practice in providing soft tissue injury treatment using the Imperial Tendon Manipulation Technique. His gentle yet thorough approach has enabled him to assist numerous patients in managing neck pain.

Years of Practice: 20

Credentials: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage

Jason

Medical Assistant

Jason has over two years of practice as a Medical Assistant, and his areas of interest include pain management, particularly aiding in the relief of neck pains.

Years of Practice: 2

Credentials: Singapore ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage, Bachelor of Physiotherapy (MAHSA University, Malaysia), Diploma in Physiotherapy (MAHSA University, Malaysia)

FAQs About TCM Neck Pain Relief and Treatment in Singapore

  • TCM provides holistic neck pain treatment for patients in Singapore experiencing neck aches. Aside from helping with neck pain relief, Cupping, Tui Na, and acupuncture techniques also aid in soothing and relaxing neck muscles and surrounding areas. In addition, TCM treatments may help improve your body’s blood flow and circulation, promoting the body’s overall healing.

  • You can try TCM treatments if you want an alternative method to address your neck pain. This option may be suitable if your neck pain symptoms have no apparent causes, or you’ve tried prescribed medicine but didn’t achieve the desired results. We advise you to consult a physician before trying such treatments if you are elderly, a child, are pregnant or lactating or have severe medical conditions.

  • At Sin Kang TCM, we look at the bigger picture when providing treatments for neck pain relief. Our qualified practitioners and therapists are skilled in providing neck pain treatments through non-invasive methods that are not meant to cause pain, discomfort, or any side effects. We offer pain management programmes for our Singaporean clientele. The treatments are designed to provide sustainable solutions aimed at addressing chronic neck pain.

  • Even if the neck pain treatments do not yield the results you expect, surgery may not necessarily be the next step. It’s important to consider factors such as the severity of your neck pain. Conditions necessitating surgical intervention are frequently debilitating and chronic, and surgery is typically considered a last resort. It is advisable to learn about alternative treatment options from a professional to help you make an informed decision.

  • To prevent neck pain in the future, practise and maintain good posture, especially when sitting down and using computers or mobile devices. Regular exercise, including neck and shoulder stretches, can help strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. Managing stress with relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation can also reduce muscle tension that may lead to neck pain.