Neck and Shoulder Pain
The average weight of the human head is around 11lbs.
This is a serious amount of weight for our necks and shoulder girdle to support, which is often why complications arise. Neck stiffening, neck aches and
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The neck, head and shoulder are intricately linked and often commonly connected with each other when pain arises. Some of the many variable we take into account when treating pain in this area are;
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Static, seated or standing posture
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Work specific posture
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Past trauma
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Eye strain resulting in tension
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Micro compensation to previous trauma or unresolved movement dysfunction
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Tension from the jaw or teeth
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Breathing and tongue position
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Relationship between the neck and other areas of the body during movement
We will assess your range of motion and ability to support your head and shoulders through muscle testing, orthopaedic tests and larger, whole body movement tests.

Neck and Shoulder Pain FAQs
Can neck problems cause headaches?
Yes, instability or faulty movement at the neck is one of the most common causes for headaches. Neck stiffening or painful neck aches commonly go along with headaches. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have a problem with your neck, it may be more that your brain is protecting you from moving in a certain way that it does not feel safe doing. The Four Step-Treatment process utilised here is designed to desensitise these movements or areas of hyper sensitivity so that your subconscious feels safe to move freely without the need for restriction.
How do I know if I have shoulder impingement?
Genuine shoulder impingement is caused by the muscles of the rotator cuff becoming compressed by the acromion (collar bone) as they pass under it at the shoulder joint. Some pain high up or running down through the shoulder could be caused by this, but shoulder impingement can be a reversible symptom of other complications occurring in the shoulder. Almost all shoulder impingement type pain does not require surgery, even if it has been present for some time. As with all other pain, it is important to take in all the factors that may be contributing to symptoms before labelling pain as a specific injury.
All of the tension in my body seems to stem from my neck and shoulders, is this common?
This is a very common issue seen in clinic whereby a person has sore neck and shoulders at the same time. A lot of this is simply put down to poor posture which can be partly true but not necessarily representative of the bigger picture. Neck and shoulder problems can be frustrating, but are very much treatable.
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The Four Step-Treatment Process used here is designed to assess and treat these issues from top to bottom, taking into account all factors that could be causing the pain and tightness there.
Can whiplash last for years?
In some cases, the effects from whiplash can last for years. But this does not mean the effects are permanent.
After 3-6 months, any injury or inflammation to muscles or other tissue of the body should be completely healed. So, if there are symptoms that have been with you since receiving a whiplash injury, they are much more likely to be of a neurological kind. This is where your brain still thinks that you are in danger of hurting yourself and so is trying to protect you by either restricting movement, or causing the sensations of pain to prevent you from doing something it deems to be harmful to you.
By following the Four Step-Treatment Process used here, the plan is to desensitise the “faulty” information your brain may be processing as harmful long after an event, thus allowing you to resume completely normal function of your body.