Stiff neck, aching shoulders or finding it uncomfortable to turn your head?

Neck pain can affect everything from working at a computer and driving to sleeping, exercising and simply looking over your shoulder.

At Westway Clinic, we assess and treat appropriate musculoskeletal neck pain, helping you understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and what you can do to restore comfortable movement.

Our Redhill clinic offers both osteopathy and physiotherapy for neck pain and is conveniently located for patients from Reigate and the surrounding Surrey area.

What Does Neck Pain Feel Like?

Neck symptoms vary from person to person.

You might experience:

• Aching or stiffness through the neck
• Difficulty turning your head
• Pain across the shoulders or upper back
• Muscular tension
• Pain aggravated by sitting or screen use
• Discomfort after sleeping
• Pain or symptoms travelling towards the shoulder or arm
• Headaches that appear to be associated with your neck

Most neck pain settles within a few weeks, but persistent or recurring symptoms may benefit from assessment.

What Can Contribute to Neck Pain?

Neck pain does not always have one obvious cause.

Sometimes symptoms develop after a clear incident. At other times, they appear gradually.

Factors that may be relevant include:

Long Periods in One Position

Working at a desk, using screens or other activities that keep your neck in one position for extended periods can contribute to discomfort. NHS guidance recommends avoiding keeping the neck in the same position for long periods.

Muscular Tension

Muscles around the neck and shoulders can become painful or sensitive, particularly during busy periods or after unfamiliar activity.

Joint Stiffness

Restricted movement through the neck may contribute to stiffness and difficulty turning your head.

Sleep & Everyday Activity

Sleeping in an awkward position or suddenly doing more physical activity than usual can sometimes trigger symptoms.

Age-Related Changes

Changes within the joints of the neck become increasingly common with age, although their presence does not automatically mean they are responsible for your pain.

The important point is that we assess your particular presentation rather than deciding the cause based on one factor such as “bad posture”.

Is My Posture Causing My Neck Pain?

People with neck pain are often told they have “bad posture”.

That can oversimplify things.

Rather than trying to maintain one rigidly “perfect” position all day, it is usually more practical to:

• Change position regularly
• Avoid remaining still for long periods
• Adjust your workstation so you can work comfortably
• Keep your neck moving
• Take regular breaks from prolonged screen use

NHS guidance specifically advises avoiding keeping the neck in the same position for a long time.

How Westway Clinic Can Help With Neck Pain

The right approach depends on your symptoms and assessment.

Your treatment plan may include:

Musculoskeletal Assessment

Your practitioner will discuss when symptoms started and assess neck movement and other areas relevant to your presentation.

Hands-On Treatment

Where appropriate, osteopathy or physiotherapy may involve manual techniques aimed at improving movement and addressing relevant musculoskeletal factors.

Exercise & Rehabilitation

Exercises may be recommended to improve movement, strength and confidence using your neck.

Desk & Activity Advice

Where your symptoms are aggravated by work or particular activities, your practitioner may suggest practical ways of changing how long you remain in one position or how you approach those tasks.

Self-Management

We want you to have useful strategies outside the treatment room, rather than feeling that every recurrence requires another appointment.

Osteopathy for Neck Pain

Where your symptoms are appropriate for osteopathic care, treatment may involve:

• Assessment of movement and relevant musculoskeletal factors
• Manual therapy
• Joint and soft-tissue techniques
• Exercise or movement advice
• Self-management strategies

Physiotherapy for Neck Pain

Physiotherapy may be particularly appropriate where exercise, rehabilitation and restoring movement or strength form an important part of the plan.

Westway now has a dedicated physiotherapy neck-pain resource covering assessment, exercise and self-management.

Your physiotherapy plan may include:

• Movement assessment
• Manual therapy where appropriate
• Mobility exercises
• Strengthening
• Activity advice
• Gradual return to normal activity

Neck Pain & Headaches

Some headaches can arise from structures associated with the neck.

You may notice headache symptoms alongside:

• Neck stiffness
• Reduced neck movement
• Discomfort around the upper neck
• Shoulder or upper-back tension

However, not every headache is caused by the neck.

If headache is one of your main symptoms, your practitioner should first establish whether your presentation is suitable for musculoskeletal treatment.

What About Whiplash?

Whiplash is different from ordinary mechanical neck pain.

It is a neck injury caused by a sudden movement of the head, commonly following a road traffic accident, fall or other injury. Symptoms can include neck pain, stiffness, headaches and pain or muscle spasm around the shoulders and arms.

If you have recently injured your neck, the priority is to establish whether you need medical assessment.

If there are no concerning features and physiotherapy is appropriate, rehabilitation may form part of your recovery. NHS guidance notes that people whose whiplash symptoms do not improve after several weeks may be referred for physiotherapy.

What Happens at Your First Appointment?

1. We Listen

Your practitioner will ask how your neck pain started, where you feel it and which movements or activities are difficult.

2. We Assess

Where appropriate, we will assess neck movement and carry out relevant musculoskeletal tests.

3. We Explain

We will discuss what we find and whether treatment at Westway is appropriate.

4. We Treat

Where suitable, your appointment may include hands-on treatment together with movement or exercise advice.

5. We Give You a Plan

You should leave knowing what you can do between appointments and what the next step is.

Should I Keep My Neck Moving?

For most uncomplicated neck pain, prolonged immobilisation is not recommended.

The NHS advises keeping the neck moving and specifically says not to use a neck collar unless a doctor tells you to.

Movement should be comfortable and appropriate to your symptoms.

If pain is severe, worsening or associated with neurological symptoms, seek appropriate medical advice rather than trying to exercise through it.

When Should I Seek Medical Advice?

Most neck pain is not serious, but certain symptoms should be assessed medically.

Contact your GP if:

• Neck pain or stiffness has not improved after a few weeks
• Usual pain relief has not helped
• You are worried about your symptoms
• You have additional symptoms such as pins and needles or a cold arm

If You Have Injured Your Neck

Seek urgent GP advice or contact NHS 111 if, following a neck injury, you have:

• Severe pain despite appropriate pain relief
• Tingling or pins and needles
• Difficulty walking or sitting upright
• An electric-shock sensation through the neck or back
• Weakness in your arms or legs

Symptoms such as progressive weakness, worsening balance or new bladder/bowel changes also require urgent medical assessment.

Why Choose Westway Clinic for Neck Pain?

Neck pain is common, but that does not mean everyone needs the same treatment.

Our approach is to:

• Understand how your symptoms are affecting you
• Assess the problem before treating it
• Explain what we believe is relevant
• Use hands-on treatment where appropriate
• Include movement and rehabilitation
• Help you manage work and everyday activity
• Refer you elsewhere when that is the better option

With osteopathy and physiotherapy available at Westway, we can help direct you towards an appropriate treatment pathway rather than expecting you to diagnose the problem yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Pain

How long does neck pain normally last?

Many episodes of neck pain improve within a few weeks. The NHS recommends speaking to your GP if pain or stiffness has not resolved after several weeks or you have other concerning symptoms.

Should I rest my neck?

Complete rest is generally not recommended for uncomplicated neck pain.

NHS advice encourages keeping the neck moving and avoiding a collar unless specifically advised by a doctor.

Can osteopathy help neck pain?

Whether osteopathy is appropriate for you depends on your individual presentation and assessment.

Can physiotherapy help neck pain?

Physiotherapy can include assessment, hands-on treatment, mobility exercises, strengthening and advice aimed at restoring normal movement and function.

Can neck pain cause headaches?

Some headaches arise from the neck and are referred to as cervicogenic headaches.

Can Westway treat whiplash?

Whiplash should be approached separately from ordinary mechanical neck pain.

If your neck pain followed an accident or significant injury, the first priority is making sure medical assessment is not required. Physiotherapy may be appropriate for some people during recovery once they have been appropriately assessed.

Do I need a scan?

Most routine neck pain does not automatically require imaging.

Whether investigation is necessary depends on your symptoms, history and examination. If your practitioner identifies signs that require medical assessment, they should advise you accordingly.

Ready to Get Your Neck Moving More Comfortably?

If neck pain or stiffness is making work, driving, exercise or everyday movement difficult, book an assessment at Westway Clinic.

We will take the time to understand your symptoms, assess what may be contributing to them and give you a clear plan for what to do next.

Westway Clinic
17 Hatchlands Road
Redhill, Surrey
RH1 6AA

Call: 01737 762990

Convenient for patients in Redhill, Reigate and surrounding areas.