Neck pain is a broad term describing any discomfort felt in the neck, and it is far more common than many people realise: up to 20% of adults experience neck pain at any given time (Hogg‑Johnson et al., 2008), and nearly 50% of people will deal with at least one significant episode in their lifetime (Fejer et al., 2006).
Neck pain is typically felt below the base of the skull and above the top of the shoulder blades, though symptoms often extend beyond this region. Because the spine in the neck is dense with nerves, muscles, and other structures, discomfort can radiate into the shoulders, arms, hands, head, or even behind the eyes. When symptoms persist for twelve weeks or longer, the condition is classified as chronic neck pain (Carroll et al., 2008). It is important to note that the persistence of chronic pain may not indicate ongoing irreversible damage.
The causes of neck pain vary widely. Age, occupation, physical demands, sudden injuries, and even prolonged static postures can all contribute. Mechanical neck pain refers to discomfort that is clearly linked to a specific movement or sustained posture. Referred neck pain, on the other hand, is felt in areas such as the arm, shoulder, mid‑back, or as a headache. Notably, cervicogenic headaches account for up to 4% of all headaches (Sjaastad et al., 1998), and during your assessment, you may be asked about the frequency, duration, and nature of any headaches you experience.
Management of neck pain depends on the underlying cause, how symptoms behave throughout the day, and what aggravates or eases them. These details form the foundation of your initial assessment, which is the first step toward reducing discomfort and restoring ease of movement. From there, your treatment plan is tailored to your presentation, with a focus on relieving pain, improving mobility, and building strategies that reduce the likelihood of future flare‑ups. Evidence shows that exercise‑based rehabilitation can reduce neck pain intensity by up to 50% in many individuals (Gross et al., 2015), where active care is effective care.
At Atlas Physio, we support you with clear education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your progress both in the clinic and at home. To make care simple and accessible, we’re open seven days a week with evening appointments available. We also offer bulk billing for eligible clients and no‑gap fees for WorkCover or TAC clients, to support the health, wellbeing, and sustainable participation of our patients in clinic and at home.
REFERENCES
Carroll, L. J., Hogg‑Johnson, S., van der Velde, G., Haldeman, S., Holm, L. W., Carragee, E. J., Hurwitz, E. L., Côté, P., Nordin, M., Peloso, P. M., Guzman, J., Cassidy, J. D. (2008). Course and prognostic factors for neck pain in the general population: Results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Spine, 33(4 Suppl), S75–S82.
Fejer, R., Kyvik, K. O., & Hartvigsen, J. (2006). The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: A systematic critical review of the literature. European Spine Journal, 15(6), 834–848.
Gross, A., Langevin, P., Burnie, S. J., Bédard‑Bélanger, A., & Empey, B. (2015). Exercises for mechanical neck disorders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(1), CD004250.
Hogg‑Johnson, S., van der Velde, G., Carroll, L. J., Holm, L. W., Cassidy, J. D., Guzman, J., Côté, P., Haldeman, S., Ammendolia, C., Carragee, E., Hurwitz, E., Nordin, M., Peloso, P., & Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. (2008). The burden and determinants of neck pain in the general population. Spine, 33(4 Suppl), S39–S51.
Sjaastad, O., Fredriksen, T. A., & Pfaffenrath, V. (1998). Cervicogenic headache: Diagnostic criteria. Headache, 38(6), 442–445.