Pain located in the neck is a common medical condition. Neck pain can be due to stiffness in the joints, poor posture, damage to the facet joints or the discs. The pain may refer up into the head to give headaches.Neck pain can come from a number of disorders and diseases of any tissues in the neck.

Examples of common conditions producing neck pain are:

degenerative disc disease, neck strain, neck injury such as following a car accident when whiplash may occur, a herniated disc or a pinched nerve.

Neck pain can also be associated with headaches, facial pain, referred shoulder pain, and arm numbness or tingling. These associated symptoms are often a result of nerves becoming pinched in the neck. For example, compressing the nerve of sensation to the back of the head, which comes out of the neck, causes headaches in the back of the head.

TREATMENT

A thorough assessment will include observing your posture and spinal movements. The quality of joint and muscle movement will be assessed.

Treatment will include postural correction, manual therapy and a specific exercise/ rehabilitation programme to maintain improvement gained and prevent recurrence of neck pain.