Neck
Neck Pain & Stiffness — North Vancouver
The stiff turn checking your blind spot, the ache that creeps up by mid-afternoon at the desk, the headache that starts at the base of your skull. Most mechanical neck pain settles faster than people expect once the right joints and muscles get unstuck.
What it is
Understanding your neck pain.
Neck pain runs the full range from a low background stiffness to a sharp catch that stops you turning your head. It tends to settle in the neck and upper shoulders, but it can spread into the head, the upper back, or down an arm. When it reaches the head it shows up as the kind of headache that starts behind the eyes or at the base of the skull, sometimes brings a touch of dizziness, and sometimes sends numbness or tingling into the fingers.
Most of it is mechanical. The small joints of the neck and the muscles around them get irritated by the positions we hold for hours — a forward head over a laptop, a phone tucked against a shoulder, a pillow that's too high. Sudden loads matter too: a sleep in an odd position, a heavy lift, an awkward reach. With age, the discs and joints stiffen and become a little more sensitive, which is normal and not a sentence.
Stress quietly feeds the cycle. Tense shoulders and shallow breathing keep the upper-neck muscles working when they should be resting, and that tightness reduces blood flow and prolongs the soreness. Pinning down which of these is driving your particular neck is the first job of the assessment.
What to expect
A simple stiff, acutely sore neck often loosens meaningfully within two or three visits. The longer-standing desk-pattern necks — the ones that have been grumbling for months — usually need four to six sessions plus a short daily routine before the gains hold on their own. You should feel more range early; the staying power comes from the strength work.
Get a plan
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About neck pain.
My neck pain started after a car crash. Is this the right page?+
Not quite. Crash-related neck pain — the whiplash kind that comes on in the day or two after a rear-ender — has its own assessment and is billed differently. See our whiplash page and the ICBC guide, since that care is covered under Enhanced Care with no out-of-pocket cost.
Can a tight neck really cause my headaches?+
Often, yes. When the joints and muscles of the upper neck are irritated they refer pain up into the head — that's a cervicogenic headache, and it usually sits on one side, starts at the base of the skull, and eases when the neck is treated. We assess to confirm it's coming from the neck rather than something that needs your physician.
I work at a desk on Lonsdale all day. Will physio help if I can't change my job?+
Yes. The fix isn't quitting the desk — it's breaking up the static load. Small position changes every 20 to 30 minutes, a screen at the right height, and a few minutes of targeted neck and shoulder work usually offset a full day of sitting.
Should I get a scan for my neck?+
Rarely at the start. Neck X-rays and MRIs show age-related changes in most adults who have no pain at all, so a scan often raises alarm without explaining the problem. We assess first; if there are red flags or you stall, we'll send you to your GP for imaging.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).