All photography provided by Jared Chambers

Relieve the pain in your neck.

What causes neck pain?

Our neck is a complex system made up of many 3 dimensional joints. Here we will focus on the long term, chronic type of neck aching and stiffness.

The biggest cause of neck pain is your head and how you hold it. A typical person’s head weighs over 12 pounds. Imagine carrying 12 pounds all day long, wouldn’t that be strenuous? What if you were carrying it in an awkward way, like stretched out in front of you? That is often times how we end up carrying our head, leaning forward. Over time, your muscles can become tighter to support your neck, and your joints can stiffen to keep from falling apart. This contributes to a constant sense of neck stiffness and or aching. You may feel a constant urge to stretch or crack your neck.

Why does it happen?

A lot of the activity in our life happens before us and a little below us, such as the screen you’re probably reading right now. We grow accustomed to looking down while leaning forward. This wasn’t how our body was meant to be used. In caveman days, we probably had to look to the horizon most of the time: for food or to keep an eye out for danger, for navigation, and more. We are not built for, nor accustomed to this modern life. But we can help get better at it.

Does it get better?

Neck pain and stiffness can get better. It’s important that we address the root of the issue. You might’ve found that massaging or cracking your neck brings relief, but just temporarily. We don’t naturally aspire for bad posture. And even good intentions for better posture cannot be sustained without the right strength and flexibility. We will evaluate you to see what muscle or joint stiffness is limiting you and what muscles can help you naturally maintain better posture.

What can we do to help?

We use a combination of physical therapy and taichi exercise to provide a natural, gentle way to improve neck issues. 

• Manual therapy - Helps relax and lengthen the muscles of your neck, shoulder, and torso. Mobilization of your spine improves how you move and reduces pressure on your nerves.

• Exercise - Simple stretches and movements to restore your flexibility and strength. Taichi and coordination exercises to help you learn to move naturally and comfortably again. Yoga and postural exercises to help you regain a comfortable posture.

• Movement analysis - Examination to understand how your shoulder and back movement contributes to unreasonable demands on your neck. A detailed evaluation of the upper back and shoulder (the neighbors of the neck) can find issues that contribute to your neck symptoms.

How long will it take?

Each visit lasts 45 minutes to an hour.

The plan of care can be as short as 2 weeks. But some patients have required months. It depends on the injury, your motivation, and our combined effort. Nonetheless, you should begin to feel improvements in how you can move and how you live your life, little by little, starting from the first week.

How much does it cost?

We are in network with most PPO insurances and medicare. We also accept worker's compensation claims and automotive injury claims. You will be responsible for your insurance deductible and copay. We can contact your insurer to find out details for you but it is always recommended that you speak your your insurance company to verify as sometimes their database can be out of date.

Do you take insurance?

We are in network with most PPO insurances and medicare. We also accept worker's compensation claims and automotive injury claims. You will be responsible for your insurance deductible and copay. We can contact your insurer to find out details for you but it is always recommended that you speak your your insurance company to verify as sometimes their database can be out of date.

DOES the treatment hurt?

The treatment can cause mild discomfort comparable to a strong massage or a good workout. We aim to help you be and move comfortably again so we minimize discomfort whenever we can!

Are you sure this will work?

Most of our patients are able to return to living the life they wish without having to have surgery. Every person is different and we really need to get to know you and your condition to answer that question. If we feel that your condition would benefit from additional medical intervention beyond PT, we will happily refer you to a doctor who is right for you.