Neck pain exercises · Chapel Hill
Neck pain exercises haven’t helped? Look beyond your neck.
Where you feel neck pain doesn’t tell us which exercises you need. Let’s look at what your problem may be missing.
Clinical insights from Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT, owner of Royal Pain Physical Therapy.
Before trying another neck exercise, look beyond your neck.
If stretching your neck hasn’t helped, notice what else you’re feeling:
- Tightness or stiffness in your shoulders.
- Muscle knots or tension across your upper back.
- Headaches alongside your neck pain.
- Symptoms that extend beyond the spot that hurts most.
These symptoms don’t tell you exactly what’s causing the problem, but they give us more to investigate.
At Royal Pain, we assess how your neck, shoulders, and upper back move together. We use those findings—and your response to treatment—to identify what needs to change so you can get lasting relief.
The same symptom doesn’t mean the same problem.
One person with neck pain may need more mobility. Another may need strength. Someone else may need treatment directed at their shoulder or upper back. The same exercise won’t address every situation.
At Royal Pain, we assess first to understand what your problem needs—then check your response to guide treatment toward lasting relief.
How Royal Pain finds your starting point.
Your symptoms, movement, and treatment response guide the plan—including what you can do on your own for pain relief.
Assess first.
At Royal Pain, we examine the movement that hurts and use a hands-on assessment to look for what may be contributing to your pain.
Treat and recheck.
We treat what we believe is contributing, then repeat the painful movement to check whether your symptoms improve. Your response guides what we do next.
Build on the response.
We use what helps to guide your treatment and show you what to do at home—so you can build on the relief and address what’s contributing to your pain.
A closer look at neck pain.
Explore how Royal Pain approaches persistent neck pain, including questions about arthritis, herniated discs, and symptoms into the arm.
Neck pain care at Royal Pain
Not ready to book an appointment yet?
Get a free copy of Pain Is a Royal Nuisance and discover a process for addressing what may be keeping you in pain—without relying on medication or surgery.
Understand your options before deciding.
Talk with Dr. Nielsen about your neck pain, what you’ve tried, and where he would start based on your symptoms.