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Neck Pain Treatment in Canberra
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions and may be associated with stiffness, headaches, shoulder discomfort, or difficulty with daily activities, such as driving, sleeping, exercising, or working at a desk.
Most neck pain is NOT caused by serious injury and can often improve with the right combination of treatment, movement, and self-management.
Where do you feel Neck Pain?
Neck pain is not always felt in the neck itself. Depending on the structures involved, pain may be experienced at the base of the skull, behind the ear, around the temples, into the shoulder, or even around the eye.
Source: Piovesan, E.J., Utiumi, M.A.T. and Grossi, D.B. (2024) ‘Cervicogenic headache – How to recognize and treat’, Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 38, p.101931.
Although pain location alone cannot diagnose a condition, understanding where you feel pain can provide valuable clues during assessment and help identify the most likely source of your symptoms.
What Can Influence Your Neck Pain?
Neck pain is rarely caused by a single factor. Current research suggests that a range of biological, psychological, and social factors may influence your neck pain and recovery. At Motion Wellness Chiropractic, we use a Bio-Psycho-Social approach to better understand what may be contributing to your neck pain
4 Common Types of Neck Pain
1. Neck Pain with stiffness
Neck pain with stiffness (mobility deficits) is among the most common complaints we see. You may notice discomfort when turning your head, checking blind spots while driving, looking up, or spending long periods at a desk. Symptoms may be associated with reduced neck mobility, muscle tension, and discomfort around the neck and shoulder region.
2. Neck Pain with arm pain (neurological symptoms)
In some cases, neck pain may be accompanied by symptoms travelling into the shoulder, arm, or hand. These symptoms may include pain, pins and needles, numbness, weakness, or altered sensation and may require a more detailed neurological assessment.
3. Neck Pain with headaches (cervicogenic)
Some headaches may be related to structures in the neck. These headaches are often felt at the base of the skull, behind the eyes, or on one side of the head and may be aggravated by neck movement, prolonged sitting, or sustained postures.
Neck pain following a car accident or other traumatic event may involve more than just stiffness. Some people also experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, concentration difficulties, or increased sensitivity to movement and daily activities.
4. Neck pain after an accident or whiplash injury
When Should I Seek Medical Attention?
Although most neck pain is not serious, medical assessment may be recommended if you experience:
Significant trauma
Progressive weakness
Difficulty walking or loss of coordination
Unexplained weight loss
Fever or infection symptoms
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If we identify any concerning findings during your assessment, we will refer you for further investigation when appropriate.
How Do We Assess Your Neck Pain?
Every patient is different. Our assessment aims to identify the factors contributing to your symptoms and determine the most appropriate management plan.
Goal of our assessment is to understand the factors contributing to your symptoms and identify the most appropriate management plan.
✔ Detailed history
✔ Movement assessment
✔ Static & Motion palpation
✔ Orthopaedic test
✔ Neurological test
✔ X-ray if indicated
How Can We Help Your Neck Pain?
Current clinical guidelines commonly recommend a combination of hands-on and hands-off care for many neck pain conditions.
Depending on your individual needs, your care may include:
Chiropractic Care
Making neurophysiological changes, helping pain relief and improving movement
Rehabilitation Exercise
Facilitating recovery and building strength and confidence in movement with long-term resilience
Pain Science Education
Helping you better understand your pain and recovery process
Lifestyle Guidance
Addressing sleep, stress, diet, misbelief, and daily habits that help recovery
Reference
Blanpied, P.R., Gross, A.R., Elliott, J.M., Devaney, L.L., Clewley, D., Walton, D.M., Sparks, C. and Robertson, E.K., 2017. Neck pain: Revision 2017 clinical practice guidelines linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(7), pp.A1–A83.
Chacko, N., Gross, A.R., Miller, J., Santaguida, P.L., Burnie, S.J., Gelley, G.M., Paquin, J.P., Duranai, M.R., Langevin, P., Chopra-Tandon, N., Chak, N.T., Hoving, J.L. and Bobos, P. (2025) Manual therapy with exercise for neck pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 12, Art. No. CD011225. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011225.pub2.
El-Allawy, A., Hecht, N., Luedtke, K., Schleicher, P., Weidner, N. and Kötter, T., 2025. Clinical practice guideline: Nonspecific neck pain. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 122, pp.552–557.
Piovesan, E.J., Utiumi, M.A.T. and Grossi, D.B. (2024) ‘Cervicogenic headache – How to recognize and treat’, Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 38, p.101931.
Reynolds, B., McDevitt, A., Kelly, J., Mintken, P. and Clewley, D., 2025. Manual physical therapy for neck disorders: An umbrella review. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 33(1), pp.18–35.
Mansfield, M., Smith, T., Spahr, N., Thacker, M. and Puentedura, E.J., 2023. Exercise therapy for chronic neck pain: Tailoring person-centred approaches within contemporary management. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 14, pp.263–275.
