Neck pain can make it difficult to work, sleep, drive, exercise, or even turn your head comfortably.

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness in Vancouver, we assess what may be contributing to your neck pain and create an individualized treatment plan based on your symptoms, movement, posture, lifestyle, and goals.

Care may include chiropractic treatment, joint mobilization, soft-tissue techniques, mobility exercises, active rehabilitation, and cervical traction when appropriate.

BOOK A NECK PAIN ASSESSMENT

What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck pain can develop suddenly after an injury or gradually over time.

Some patients notice pain after sleeping awkwardly or turning their head quickly. Others develop stiffness from prolonged desk work, phone use, repetitive activity, or sports.

Common contributors may include:

• Muscle tension or strain

• Joint stiffness

• Prolonged sitting

• Forward-head posture

• Repetitive computer or phone use

• Sports-related strain

• Motor vehicle accidents

• Disc-related conditions

• Degenerative changes

• Nerve irritation

• Previous injuries

Not every case of neck pain has one single cause, which is why assessment is important before deciding on treatment.

What Does Neck Pain Feel Like?

Symptoms vary from person to person.

Some patients feel a dull ache or stiffness. Others experience sharper pain with certain movements.

Neck pain may also be associated with:

Shoulder tension • Upper-back discomfort • Headaches • Reduced rotation • Pain when looking up or down • Muscle tightness

If a nerve in the neck is irritated, symptoms may also travel into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers.

“Tech Neck” & Desk-Related Neck Pain

Phones, laptops, and prolonged sitting can place sustained demands on the neck and upper back.

People who spend long periods looking down or leaning toward a screen may experience:

Neck stiffness • Shoulder tension • Headaches • Upper-back fatigue • Reduced movement

The goal is not to force one “perfect” posture all day.

At ProSpine, we often focus on:

Movement variety • Better workstation setup • Regular position changes • Neck and upper-back mobility • Appropriate strengthening

Neck Pain & Headaches

Some headaches may be associated with irritation or tension involving the muscles and joints of the upper neck.

These are sometimes referred to as cervicogenic headaches.

Patients may notice:

• Headaches beginning around the base of the skull

• Neck stiffness

• Pain on one side of the head

• Symptoms aggravated by neck movement

• Headaches after prolonged desk work

Not all headaches are caused by the neck, so persistent, severe, or unusual headaches should be properly assessed.

Neck Pain With Arm Pain, Numbness or Tingling

If pain travels from the neck into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers, a cervical nerve may be irritated.

This may occur with conditions such as:

Cervical radiculopathy • Disc herniation • Foraminal narrowing • Degenerative changes

Symptoms may include:

Arm pain • Tingling • Numbness • Weakness • Burning sensations

A neurological assessment can help determine whether nerve involvement may be present.

How We Assess Neck Pain

Your first visit begins with a detailed discussion of your symptoms.

We may ask about your work, sleep, previous injuries, exercise, screen use, and whether symptoms travel into your arm.

Your chiropractor may assess:

Neck range of motion • Joint mobility • Muscle function • Posture • Strength • Reflexes • Sensation • Orthopedic tests • Neurological function

The goal is to understand what appears to be contributing to your symptoms and whether conservative care is appropriate.

How Chiropractic Care May Help Neck Pain

For selected patients with musculoskeletal neck pain, chiropractic care may be one part of a conservative treatment plan.

Treatment may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

When clinically appropriate, a controlled chiropractic adjustment may be used to improve movement in restricted cervical joints.

Gentle Mobilization

Some patients prefer or require lower-force techniques.

Soft-Tissue Treatment

Muscles around the neck, shoulders, and upper back may become tight or guarded.

Mobility Exercises

Specific exercises may help restore comfortable neck movement.

Posture & Movement Education

We may discuss workstation setup, screen habits, sleeping position, and movement breaks.

Treatment is adjusted according to your comfort and response.

Cervical Spinal Decompression & Traction

For selected patients, we may consider cervical spinal decompression or mechanical traction.

At ProSpine, we use the Chattanooga Triton DTS® system, which allows controlled cervical traction to be adjusted according to the patient’s symptoms, tolerance, and clinical findings.

Cervical traction may be considered for certain patients with:

Neck pain • Disc-related symptoms • Cervical radiculopathy • Arm pain • Nerve irritation

It is not appropriate for every patient, so an assessment is performed first.

[LEARN MORE ABOUT SPINAL DECOMPRESSION]

Active Rehabilitation With Our Kinesiologist

Neck pain often involves more than joint stiffness alone.

Weakness, poor endurance, or movement habits may contribute to recurring symptoms.

Our on-site kinesiologist can help with:

Neck and upper-back strength • Shoulder stability • Postural endurance • Mobility • Movement control

This allows chiropractic care and active rehabilitation to work together.

Our goal is to help patients progress from:

Pain relief → better movement → improved strength → return to normal activity

Neck Pain After a Car Accident

Neck pain is common following motor vehicle accidents.

Whiplash-associated injuries may involve the muscles, joints, and surrounding soft tissues of the neck and upper back.

Symptoms can include:

Neck pain • Stiffness • Headaches • Shoulder pain • Reduced movement • Muscle tension

If your symptoms are related to a motor vehicle accident, you may be eligible for treatment through ICBC.

[LEARN MORE ABOUT ICBC INJURY CARE]

Neck Pain in Athletes

Sports such as golf, hockey, martial arts, swimming, racquet sports, and weight training can place repeated demands on the neck and upper back.

Athletes may experience stiffness, restricted movement, or muscle tension that interferes with training.

A sports-focused assessment may look at:

Neck mobility • Thoracic mobility • Shoulder movement • Strength • Sport-specific demands

Treatment and rehabilitation can then be tailored to the activity.

Do I Need an X-Ray?

Not every patient with neck pain needs imaging.

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness, we have access to in-house digital X-ray imaging when clinically indicated.

Imaging may be considered depending on factors such as:

Trauma • Neurological findings • Persistent symptoms • Clinical examination findings

If more advanced imaging such as MRI is required, we can discuss appropriate next steps.

When Neck Pain Needs Medical Attention

Most neck pain is musculoskeletal, but certain symptoms require prompt medical evaluation.

Seek medical attention if neck pain is accompanied by:

Severe trauma • Progressive arm or leg weakness • Loss of balance • Significant numbness • Fever • Severe unusual headache • Difficulty speaking • Vision changes • Fainting or other neurological symptoms

If something during your examination suggests that chiropractic treatment is not appropriate, we will recommend further medical assessment.

What to Expect at ProSpine

1. Consultation

We discuss your symptoms, activity level, work, and health history.

2. Physical & Neurological Assessment

We evaluate movement, muscle function, joint mobility, and relevant nerve findings.

3. Explanation

We explain what may be contributing to your symptoms.

4. Personalized Care

Treatment may include chiropractic care, mobilization, soft-tissue work, traction, or rehabilitation.

5. Reassessment

Your treatment plan is adjusted based on your response and progress.

Move Your Neck More Comfortably

If neck pain, stiffness, headaches, or arm symptoms are interfering with your daily life, the first step is understanding what may be causing the problem.

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness, we provide individualized neck pain care focused on improving movement, function, and confidence.

ProSpine Rehab & Wellness
Vancouver, BC

778-805-8188
info@prospinevan.ca

BOOK A NECK PAIN ASSESSMENT