What causes neck pain?
Neck pain is extremely common among people who spend long hours at a desk. Postural neck pain is one of the most frequent presentations I treat. It can also result from trauma, disc pathology, or nerve compression, all of which require careful assessment.
Common neck conditions treated
- Postural neck pain: from sustained poor posture at a workstation, causing muscle tension and joint stiffness
- Whiplash associated disorder: following road traffic accidents or sporting collisions
- Cervical disc herniation: disc material pressing on nerve roots causing pain, pins and needles, or weakness into the arm
- Cervicogenic headaches: headaches arising from neck joint and muscle dysfunction
- Cervical spondylosis: age-related degenerative changes causing stiffness and aching
- Torticollis: acute muscle spasm causing the neck to be held in a fixed, painful position
Symptoms
- Stiffness or reduced range of movement, especially turning the head
- Aching or sharp pain in the neck, often worse at the end of the day
- Headaches starting at the base of the skull and spreading forward
- Pain, tingling, or numbness radiating into the shoulder, arm, or hand
- Muscle tension across the upper trapezius and into the shoulders
How physiotherapy helps
Physiotherapy for neck pain combines hands-on treatment with exercise and education to address the root cause. For desk workers, workstation ergonomics often plays an important role alongside the clinical work.
What treatment involves
- Assessment of cervical spine movement, strength, and neurological function
- Joint mobilisation and manipulation to restore normal cervical mechanics
- Soft tissue therapy to address muscle tension and trigger points
- Deep neck flexor strengthening — the key stabilisers of the cervical spine
- Postural retraining and workstation ergonomics advice
- Neural mobilisation techniques where nerve involvement is present
What to expect from recovery
Most postural neck pain responds quickly to manual therapy and exercise, with significant improvement within three to six sessions. More complex presentations involving disc pathology or nerve root compression take longer, but most patients avoid surgical intervention with well-structured physiotherapy.