Neck pain & headaches
A stiff, sore neck can affect your sleep, your work and your mood. It usually responds well to the right treatment.
Neck pain often creeps up on busy people: hours on a laptop, phone use, driving, carrying children or stress held in the shoulders. It can also cause headaches that start at the base of the skull and spread over the head. We look at how your neck, upper back and shoulders work together, then treat the cause rather than just the sore spot.
You might notice
- Stiffness and reduced movement, especially turning your head
- Aching across the top of the shoulders
- Headaches starting at the back of the head or behind the eyes
- Pain after long periods at a desk or driving
- Occasional pins and needles into the arm
Common causes
- Long hours in one position at a desk or screen
- Stress and muscle tension
- Sleeping awkwardly or an unsupportive pillow
- Whiplash or a sudden jolt
- Age-related changes in the neck joints
How we work on neck pain & headaches.
- 01
Ease the tension
Hands-on treatment, gentle mobility and, where it helps, dry needling to calm a stiff, sore neck and shoulders.
- 02
Find the cause
Your desk set-up, phone and screen habits, sleep and stress, plus how your upper back and shoulders move.
- 03
Strengthen the support
Exercises for the deep neck and shoulder blade muscles that take the load off your neck.
- 04
Prevent flare-ups
Workstation tweaks and a five-minute routine that fits into a working day.
- Assessment of your neck, upper back and shoulders
- Gentle hands-on treatment to ease stiffness and tension
- Acupuncture or spinal manipulation if required
- Simple desk and workstation changes that make a difference
- Exercises to strengthen the deep neck and shoulder muscles
- A plan to manage headaches and reduce flare-ups
Many people notice an improvement in movement and pain after the first few sessions. Longer-standing neck pain and headaches improve best with a combination of treatment and regular, simple exercises.
Elite-level care, on your case.
The people who have looked after Premier League footballers and Premiership rugby players will look after you. Same standards, same attention to detail, whatever brings you in.
Your first appointment.
01
We listen
Your first appointment lasts an hour with a senior physiotherapist. We start by understanding your symptoms, your history, your work and what you want to get back to.
02
We find the cause
A thorough hands-on assessment of how you move, so we treat the cause and not just where it hurts.
03
You leave with a plan
You will understand what is wrong, how long it should take, and exactly what to do next, including treatment and exercises to start straight away.
Good questions.
Can physiotherapy help headaches?
Yes, when the headaches come from the neck (cervicogenic or tension-type headaches). Your assessment will help work out whether that is the case for you.
Is it my posture?
Posture plays a part, but there is no single perfect posture. Changing position often and building strength usually matters more than sitting perfectly still.
