Neck pain often builds slowly from long hours at a screen, poor sleep positions or stress that settles into the shoulders. Some headaches start in the joints and muscles of the upper neck. Treating the neck can reduce how often they happen and how strong they are.
What does neck pain & headaches feel like?
- Stiffness turning or tilting your head
- Aching across the neck and top of the shoulders
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Pain that spreads toward the shoulder blade
- Tingling into the arm or hand
What usually causes it?
- Long periods looking down at a phone or laptop
- Sleeping in an awkward position
- Whiplash or another sudden jolt
- Weak deep neck and upper back muscles
How can physical therapy help?
- Gentle joint mobilisation for the neck and upper back
- Soft-tissue work and dry needling for tight muscles
- Strength work for deep neck flexors and shoulder blade muscles
- Workstation and sleep position changes
- A home routine you can do in a few minutes a day
When should I get it checked?
Book an evaluation if neck pain lasts more than a couple of weeks, keeps returning, or comes with regular headaches that make it hard to work or sleep.
See a doctor right away if you notice
- A sudden, severe headache unlike any before
- Neck pain with fever and a stiff neck
- Dizziness, double vision, or trouble speaking or swallowing
- Pain after a car accident or fall before you have been checked by a doctor
Questions about neck pain & headaches
Can physical therapy help my headaches?
If your headaches are linked to your neck, often yes. We screen for that during your evaluation and refer you on if something else looks likely.
Is cracking my neck bad?
An occasional pop is usually harmless. If you feel you need to crack it all the time, that is a sign the area needs better mobility and strength.