# Neck pain Neck pain is pain or stiffness in the neck, sometimes with headaches or pain spreading to the shoulder blade or arm. It can follow a snowboard fall, a crash that whips the head forward and back (whiplash), or long hours at a desk. We check your neck, upper back and arm nerves, treat the pain and stiffness, and rebuild movement for work, study and sport. ## Symptoms - Pain or stiffness in the neck - Trouble turning your head, such as when shoulder-checking in the car - Pain spreading across the shoulders or between the shoulder blades - Headaches that start at the base of the skull - Tight, tender spots in the neck and upper shoulder muscles - Pain, pins and needles or numbness down the arm - Neck pain that builds through a day at the desk ## Assessment We start with how the pain began: a fall on the hill, a crash, or a slow build over long days at a desk. We ask about headaches, dizziness, and any pain, tingling or weakness in your arms. Then we check how your neck and upper back move and how well your deep neck muscles work. We also test the nerves that run to your arms. Because long screen days can feed neck pain, we ask how you sit and work. After a crash or a hard fall, we look for signs of a head or neck injury, including concussion, and refer you on if needed. ## Treatment Treatment matches what we find. It often includes: - **Hands-on treatment:** gentle joint movements (mobilization) and soft-tissue work for the neck and upper back, to ease pain and stiffness. See [manual therapy](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/manual-therapy). - **Needling:** IMS (intramuscular stimulation) and dry needling place fine needles into tight, sensitive bands of muscle to help them release. See [IMS and dry needling](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/dry-needling). - **Exercise:** movement to get your neck turning freely, then strength work for the deep neck muscles, shoulder blades and upper back. This is the main treatment. - **Desk and work set-up:** practical changes to your screen, chair and breaks. [Massage therapy](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/massage-therapy) can also ease muscle tension in the neck and shoulders alongside physiotherapy. ### After a crash Whiplash strains the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck. Pain and stiffness often build over the following day rather than straight away. Once you have been checked, we start with gentle movement and build up as your symptoms allow. ## Getting back to sport Your neck is ready when it turns freely and copes with the length of a full ride or ski day. On a snowboard, it has to hold your head steady over rough snow and take a fall. On a bike, it has to hold your head up to look down the trail. We build up to those demands in stages. If you may have had a concussion in the same fall or crash, a doctor or nurse practitioner should clear you before you return to sport. ## When to come in Book an assessment if neck pain or stiffness is not settling, keeps coming back, brings on headaches, or spreads into your arm. After a crash or a hard fall, see a doctor or nurse practitioner first, then book with us. Go to the emergency department right away, or call 911, if any of these happen: - neck pain or tenderness after a blow to the head - severe neck pain after a crash or a hard fall - weakness, numbness or tingling in your arms or legs after a crash, a fall or a blow to the head - a sudden, severe headache - trouble speaking or swallowing - a fever with a stiff neck - sudden dizziness, double vision or trouble walking ## Who treats it - [Therese Leigh, Physiotherapist, BSc Physiotherapy, MHA, Dip Sport Physio, FCAMPT, GunnIMS](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/therese-leigh) - [Mike Conway, Physiotherapist, M. PT Sports, M. PT Manips, M. PT Studies, BSc Kin, CHT, GunnIMS, FCAMPT, CSCS](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/mike-conway) - [Bianca Matheson, Physiotherapist, BSc PT, Grad Dip PT Manips, Dip Sports Physio, FCAMPT, GunnIMS](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/bianca-matheson) - [Jian Soares, Physiotherapist, M ClinPhys, BSc PT, FCAMPT](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/jian-soares) - [Dana Elliott, Physiotherapist, MScPT, BSc](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/dana-elliot) - [Julie Charette, Physiotherapist, BSc PT, Cert. MDT](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/julie-charette) - [Emilie Noble, Physiotherapist, MSc PT, BSc Kines, AN-IMS](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/emilie-noble) - [Cameron Gant, Physiotherapist, BSc Physiotherapy, PG Cert Sports Physio](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/cameron-gant) - [Nicole Klopfer, Physiotherapist, B Physiotherapy (Hons) (UMelb), M Physiotherapy (Manips) (UWA), PGrad Cert Cont & PF Rehab (UMelb), GunnIMS](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/nicole-klopfer) - [Michael Pearce, Physiotherapist, BSc PT](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/michael-pearce) - [Kelsey Rey, Physiotherapist, MPT, BHK](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/kelsey-rey) - [Keeley Wentzel, Physiotherapist, BSc Physiotherapy (Hons)](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/team/keeley-wentzel) ## Services - [Physiotherapy](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/physiotherapy) - [Manual Therapy](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/manual-therapy) - [IMS and Dry Needling](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/dry-needling) - [Registered Massage Therapy (RMT)](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/massage-therapy) ## Frequently asked questions ### Should I wear a neck collar after whiplash? Usually not. Unless a doctor or nurse practitioner tells you to wear one, a soft collar is not advised for whiplash. Holding the neck still can leave it stiffer and slower to recover. Gentle movement within comfort, and a gradual return to your normal day, tends to help more. If the neck pain is severe, or your arms or legs feel weak, numb or tingly, go to the emergency department instead. ### Can neck pain cause headaches? Yes. Joints and muscles in the upper neck can send pain into the head. This headache coming from the neck (a cervicogenic headache) often starts at the base of the skull and spreads toward the forehead or behind one eye. It tends to change with neck movement or long screen days. We check whether your neck is part of your headaches. A sudden, severe headache needs emergency care. ### Is my desk set-up causing my neck pain? Partly. Long hours in one position load the neck, even with a good set-up. A screen at eye level, a chair that supports your back and regular breaks all help. Changing position often matters more than finding one perfect posture. We look at how you work and suggest changes that fit your day, alongside exercises that help your neck cope with long days. ### Does IMS or dry needling hurt? A little. Most people feel a quick prick as the needle goes in, then a deep ache or a brief twitch in the muscle. The area can feel sore afterwards, a bit like after a hard workout. We explain what to expect and check that needling suits you before we start. It is one option among several, and you can choose hands-on treatment and exercise without it. ## Massage for recovery Massage therapists do not diagnose, so start with a physiotherapist. Once you have a diagnosis and a plan, our registered massage therapists can help with the recovery. [About massage therapy](https://backinactionphysiotherapy.com/services/massage-therapy) *This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for an assessment. If you are unsure, see a health professional.*