The neck pain you have endured for years may not arise from a problem at the neck. Many people who have chronic neck pain usually understand that the problem is in the area of the neck directly, and so try to treat only the neck with massage, stretching, or general physiotherapy. But why do the symptoms never go away? Today we will take you to understand it through the true story of an "executive of a global organisation" who suffered from neck pain for many years, until he discovered that the true root of the problem was not at the neck at all, but in a distorted bodily structure.

An executive who had to suffer from neck pain for many years

A life that had to face pain every day

This executive of a global organisation had to travel often, sit in long meetings, and work hard continuously. What followed alongside the success in his career was chronic neck pain that had been there for many years.

This pain was not merely for short periods or occasional, but pain that stayed with him every day, affecting his work, his rest, and his quality of life overall. He began to feel that his body was not as fresh as before, had to rely on painkillers regularly, and the symptoms became more and more severe.

A history of treatment that never gave a result

Like many people who have chronic pain, he had tried treatment by a wide variety of methods, from Thai massage, spa massage, and physiotherapy, to steroid injections, and through to taking painkillers and muscle relaxants regularly.

Sometimes the symptoms improved temporarily. When the massage was finished, or the physiotherapy was finished, he would feel lighter for a while, but before long the symptoms came back again, sometimes even worse than before. He began to feel discouraged, and wondered whether he would have to live with this pain for ever.

What is interesting is that no doctor or physiotherapist was able to find the true cause of his neck pain. Everyone looked only at the symptom at the neck, but nobody looked for a root deeper than that.

The turning point at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic

A different diagnosis

He came to see the team of rehabilitation physicians at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic. The first thing the doctors did was not to treat the neck at once, but to carry out a Full Body Analysis (analysis of the structure of the body as a whole), in order to look for the true cause of the problem.

This examination does not look only at the area where there is pain, but looks at the whole system of the structure of the body, from the head, the neck, the upper back, the back, the hips, and the legs, through to the feet, in order to see whether the whole structure is in the same line or not, and which parts are distorted or out of balance.

The result of the examination found that there was clear structural misalignment:

  • The neck jutting forwards more than normal
  • The shoulders not level, one higher than the other
  • The spine curved and distorted, not straight
  • The muscles of the lower back and the hips out of balance, making the body not stand straight

These problems made the muscles in the area of the neck have to work too hard in order to keep the balance of the head, causing tightness and chronic pain. This is the reason why massage or physiotherapy at the neck did not give a result — because it did not put right the root of the problem.

Integrated treatment on target

After the true cause was found, the team of doctors at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic designed a plan of treatment specific to the individual, directed at putting right the structure of the body from the source, not merely relieving the symptoms temporarily. The plan of treatment consisted of 4 main techniques:

1. Detailed analysis of the structure of the body (Full Body Analysis)

This examination is done in order to find the true "root" of the problem, not merely to look at the symptom that appears. The doctor measures and analyses as follows

  • The position of the head and the neck
  • The level of the height of the shoulders
  • The curve of the spine
  • The balance of the muscles of the back and the hips
  • The distribution of the weight of the feet

This information is brought to be analysed as a Body Structure Map, which shows which part of the body is distorted, which part has to work too hard, and which part is too weak.

2. Electromagnetic waves (Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation - PMS)

After the problem is known, the next step is to stimulate the deep core muscles using electromagnetic waves (Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation), which are the foundation of the structure of the body but cannot be reached with massage or general physiotherapy.

The PMS technique uses electromagnetic waves of high intensity to stimulate the deep muscles, namely:

  • The deep back muscles that support the spine
  • The deep neck flexors that maintain the posture of the neck
  • The shoulder muscles (scapular stabilizers) that control the position of the shoulders

The electromagnetic waves make the muscles contract and release in rhythm, helping wake the muscles that have fallen asleep (Muscle Activation) and increase the strength of the deep muscles necessary for maintaining correct posture.

This process is not painful and has no side effects, and the patient will feel at once that the muscles are working, similar to intensive exercise but without having to become tired.

3. Treatment by hand together with exercise to adjust the structure (Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise)

Stimulating the muscles alone is not enough; there must be "adjustment of the structure" and "re-centring" of the body anew, by experts in rehabilitation medicine and physiotherapists.

Manual Therapy (treatment by hand)

Consists of

  • Joint Mobilization so that the joints return to being in the correct position
  • Myofascial Release in order to reduce the tightness of the fascial tissue that binds the structure of the body
  • Postural Correction in order to train the body to know the correct posture

Therapeutic Exercise (exercise for treatment)

Namely

  • Core Strengthening exercises in order to create a strong foundation
  • Balance Training exercises in order to train the body to know how to control its own position in space
  • Specific Stretching exercises in order to release the muscles that are too tight and stretch the muscles that are too short

All these exercises are designed specifically for the individual according to the problems found from the Full Body Analysis, not general exercises used with everyone.

4. Treatment with high-frequency waves (Ultrasound Therapy)

For muscles and fascial tissue that have been contracted, tight, and hardened for a long time, the use of high-frequency sound waves (Ultrasound Therapy) helps release the tightness at the cell level effectively.

The high-frequency sound waves will

  • Increase the temperature of the tissue at a deep level, making the tissue more elastic
  • Increase the circulation of blood, bringing oxygen and nutrients to nourish the tissue
  • Reduce the inflammation from chronic injury
  • Stimulate the repair of the tissue to occur more quickly

This process is carried out together with Manual Therapy, so that the tissue that has been released can be remodelled into the correct position.

The outcome that can be seen clearly

The before-and-after images that tell everything

After receiving treatment according to the plan laid down, regularly, for a few months, he obtained an outcome beyond expectation.

The Full Body Analysis images after the treatment show a clear change:

In the structure of the body:

  • The posture standing noticeably straighter (Improved Posture) — the spine returning to being more in the correct line
  • The neck jutting forwards greatly reduced — the head returning to being in the same line as the trunk
  • The shoulders level, no longer at different heights
  • The distribution of weight more balanced, no longer leaning to one side or the other

In the symptoms:

  • The chronic neck pain reduced as never before — from a level of 8-9/10 down to only 1-2/10
  • No longer having to take painkillers, because the pain has almost entirely gone
  • Able to move the neck more freely — turning left and right, raising the face, and bending the face down without pain or tightness
  • Feeling that the body is lighter, not tired as before

As soon as the structure returned to balance, the pain went away

This is the most remarkable thing: as soon as the structure of the body returned to balance (Re-aligned), the chronic neck pain that had tormented him for years decreased significantly

The reason is that when the structure is correct:

  • The muscles of the neck no longer have to work too hard, because the weight of the head is distributed suitably
  • The nerves are not compressed by the distorted structure
  • The circulation of blood and lymph is better, because there are no tight muscles or fascia pressing on the blood vessels
  • The body is able to keep its balance by itself, without having to rely on compensation from other muscles

This is the difference between treating the cause and treating the symptom.

When you put right the true cause, the symptom at the end will go away by itself and not come back again.

A comparison, before and after the treatment

Before (before the treatment)

Symptoms:

  • Chronic neck pain at a level of 8-9/10 every day
  • Having to take painkillers regularly
  • Difficulty moving the neck, with tightness and pain when turning left and right
  • Feeling easily tired, not fresh

Treatment:

  • Treated in many forms but it did not go away, because the symptom was treated (only the neck was treated)
  • Massage, physiotherapy, steroid injections — better temporarily and then coming back again
  • Nobody was able to find the true cause

The structure of the body:

  • The neck jutting far forwards (Forward Head Posture)
  • The shoulders at unequal heights
  • The spine curved and distorted
  • The muscles of the back and the hips out of balance
  • Structural misalignment of the body

After (after the treatment):

Symptoms:

  • The neck pain reduced down to 1-2/10
  • No longer having to rely on painkillers
  • Able to move the neck freely, with no tightness or pain
  • Feeling fresh, having energy, the body light

Treatment:

  • Treated at the right point, at the cause (the distorted structure of the body)
  • Full Body Analysis + PMS + Manual Therapy + Therapeutic Exercise + Ultrasound Therapy
  • The problem put right lastingly, not coming back again

The structure of the body:

  • The neck returning to being in the same line as the trunk
  • The shoulders level and balanced
  • The spine straighter
  • The muscles of the back and the hips balanced, working in coordination
  • The structure of the body returning to balance (Realigned)

Points to note:

  • When the cause is put right (the structure of the body returning to balance), the symptom at the end (neck pain) goes away by itself
  • There is no need to treat the neck directly, yet the neck pain goes away, because the muscles of the neck no longer have to work too hard

Why is Full Body Analysis important?

Looking at the whole system, not merely the symptom

Many people who have chronic pain are usually treated in the manner of "wherever it hurts, treat there". But in reality our body is a system that is linked together. A problem that arises in one part may be merely the result of a problem that lies in another part.

For example:

  • Neck pain may arise from a structure of the lower back that is out of balance, making the upper part have to compensate
  • Back pain may arise from flat feet or from a distribution of weight that is out of balance
  • Shoulder pain may arise from the neck jutting too far forwards, making the shoulder muscles have to work too hard

This is the reason why carrying out a Full Body Analysis is important, because it helps us see the overall picture and find the true root of the problem.

Examples of other case studies

Case 1: a runner with knee pain

  • Symptoms: chronic pain in one knee
  • The previous treatment: physiotherapy at the knee, resting from running for a while, then the pain came back again
  • The Full Body Analysis found: a flat foot on one side, making the weight fall on that knee too much
  • The correct treatment: making an insole specific to the individual + building up the muscles of the hip + adjusting the posture of running
  • The outcome: the knee pain went away, and he was able to run again without the pain recurring

Case 2: an office worker with lower back pain

  • Symptoms: chronic lower back pain, particularly when sitting for a long time
  • The previous treatment: massage, stretching, but the symptoms came back
  • The Full Body Analysis found: the shoulders at unequal heights, making the spine lean and twist, and the lower back have to compensate
  • The correct treatment: adjusting the structure of the shoulders + building up the core muscles + arranging the working environment
  • The outcome: the back pain went away, and he was able to sit and work for longer without becoming tired

Case 3: an older person who walked unsteadily and fell often

  • Symptoms: walking unsteadily, poor balance, with a history of falling often
  • The previous treatment: walking practice, being given a walking stick, but still falling anyway
  • The Full Body Analysis found: the muscles of the lower back very weak, making the body not stand straight + the muscles of the hips out of balance
  • The correct treatment: PMS in order to stimulate the deep muscles + Therapeutic Exercise in order to build up strength and balance
  • The outcome: walking more steadily, not unsteady, not falling again

Who should have a Full Body Analysis?

Full Body Analysis is suited to many groups of people, particularly:

1. Those who have chronic pain that has been treated without going away

  • Pain in the neck, the upper back, the shoulders, the back, the hips, or the knees, treated in many places by many methods but not improving much
  • The symptoms improving temporarily and then coming back again and again
  • Feeling that the treatment "does not hit the point" or is not correct

2. Office workers and those who work at a desk regularly

  • Sitting at work for long periods every day
  • Having symptoms of Office Syndrome, such as pain in the neck, the upper back, and the back
  • Noticing that the sitting posture is not good, but not knowing how to adjust it

3. Athletes and those who exercise in earnest

  • Wanting to increase performance and prevent injury
  • Having recurring injury in the same position
  • Feeling that the body is out of balance and does not work as it should

4. Older people

  • Beginning to feel that the body is not as strong as before
  • Walking unsteadily, swaying, or with a history of falling
  • Wanting to prevent health problems in the future

5. Those who want to care for health preventively

  • Even though there is no pain yet, wanting to have the structure of the body checked as to whether it is balanced or not
  • Wanting to receive suitable advice for caring for health in the long term

The signals that say you may need a Full Body Analysis

If you have the following symptoms, it may be a signal that the structure of your body is out of balance:

  • Feeling that the body does not stand straight when standing, sitting, or walking
  • Clothes not fitting the body, or the shoulders of the shirt at unequal heights
  • Shoes wearing down unequally, one side wearing down faster than the other
  • Having symptoms of pain, numbness, or tiredness often, even though nothing heavy has been done
  • The posture of sitting, standing, or walking feeling uncomfortable, or having to adjust the position often
  • Having symptoms of headache often, particularly at the end of the day
  • Being unable to sleep, or waking up with aches and pains

Begin the road to restoration from today

If you are ready to begin the road to a body that is strong, without pain, and with a better quality of life, we are glad to help you.

The story of this executive teaches us an important lesson: the pain you feel may not be the root of the problem. Treatment that is on target and effective must look for the true cause, not merely relieve the symptoms temporarily.

Full Body Analysis is a powerful instrument in revealing the hidden root of chronic pain. When the structure of the body returns to balance, the pain will go away lastingly, the quality of life will be better, and you will return to being yourself once again.

Do not wait for the pain to dominate your life any longer. Begin the road to true restoration from today, with a Full Body Analysis examination and a plan of treatment suited specifically to you.

PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic

The management of pain and abnormality of the muscular and skeletal system, by expert physicians

Location:
999 Room BF-11, Floor L, Gaysorn Village Building
Ploenchit Road, Lumphini Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
(near BTS Chit Lom)
Free parking service (Valet)

Opening hours:

  • Monday-Friday: 16:30-20:00
  • Saturday-Sunday: 10:00-20:00

PYONG Rehabilitation Penthouse Clinic

The care of older people and the rehabilitation of the nervous system, by a team of specialist physicians and multidisciplinary professionals

Location:
127 Room K, Floor 11, Gaysorn Tower Building
Ratchadamri Road, Lumphini Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330

Opening hours:

  • Monday-Friday: 10:00-20:00
  • Saturday-Sunday: 10:00-20:00