Problem
Neck pain
When your neck starts to feel stiff again.
Some people’s necks become stiff after a bad night’s sleep, too many hours spent in front of a screen or physical exertion. And there are those whose necks have been experiencing the same problem on and off for months.
It’s worth looking beyond just the spot where it hurts.
When the condition is recent
If the condition is clear and localised, we can work directly on:
- cervical mobility
- muscles
- upper back region
- shoulders
- fascia.
Sometimes it’s just a cosmetic fix.
When it keeps coming back
So I’d like to check:
- what movement triggers it?
- how long does it take to see an improvement?
- how is your upper back?
- if there is jaw strain
- what happens to sleep or breathing when the pattern changes.
Not all of these conditions need to be present.
I’ll check which ones might provide information relevant to your case.
Neck and headaches
Some headaches involve the cervical spine and are recognised as such in the International Classification of Headaches.
The assessment helps to determine whether this approach is right for you.
Neck and jaw
The temporomandibular joint, the jaw muscles and the cervical spine may all be involved in the same condition.
If you clench your teeth and your neck pain gets worse at the same time, we’ll assess this.
How I work
Depending on what is found, we can work on:
- joints and muscles
- suboccipital and upper back regions
- fascia
- jaw when involved
- cranial work when indicated.
The aim
Reducing pain and stiffness, regaining mobility and understanding what is causing the neck to become strained again.
If your neck is constantly getting stiff again, it’s worth looking into what you’re doing that’s putting extra strain on it.
Sources and further reading
To find out more
References that expand on the points discussed.
View sources
- ICHD-3. Cervicogenic headache · View source
- WHO. Principles of a person-centred, biopsychosocial pain framework for chronic pain · View source