Your neck and shoulders hurt.
But are they doing more work
than they need to?
Neck stiffness, shoulder pain and recurring tension can affect your work, sleep, exercise and everyday activities.
At Yokohama Physio, we assess the painful area alongside relevant movement, physical capacity and the demands of your daily life. Our goal is to understand your individual presentation and guide appropriate treatment.
Does this sound familiar?
Neck and shoulder symptoms can appear during everyday activities or specific movements. Understanding when they occur is an important part of assessment.
Neck stiffness after desk work
Discomfort around the neck and upper shoulders after extended periods of computer work or sitting.
Pain when turning your head
Neck pain or restricted movement when looking over your shoulder, driving or rotating your head.
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm
Discomfort when reaching overhead, getting dressed, lifting weights or carrying objects.
Recurring shoulder blade tension
Tightness or discomfort around the shoulder blades that repeatedly returns despite stretching or massage.
Look beyond the tension. Understand the movement.
Pain and tightness do not always mean a muscle is weak or short. Sometimes the neck and shoulders are responding to repeated demands. Sometimes joint, tendon or nerve conditions are involved. We examine the symptoms directly and consider other relevant factors rather than assuming everyone needs the same treatment.
Why does neck or shoulder pain keep coming back?
Neck and shoulder pain can involve several structures, including joints, muscles, tendons and nerves. The painful location does not always identify which structure is involved.
Symptoms may be influenced by activity demands, sustained positions, previous injuries, physical capacity, sleep and other individual factors.
Depending on the person, the movement of the thoracic spine, rib cage and shoulder blade may also be worth examining.
However, an unusual posture or movement pattern does not automatically mean it is causing pain.
Questions worth asking
- Where exactly is the pain?
- Which movements or activities trigger symptoms?
- Is pain related to neck or shoulder movement?
- Are numbness, tingling or arm symptoms present?
- What makes symptoms better or worse?
- What activities do you want to return to?
Some neck conditions may cause symptoms around the shoulder blade or down the arm. Similarly, shoulder joint and rotator cuff conditions can cause local shoulder pain. A careful history and physical examination help guide appropriate care.
We assess the neck and shoulders. And how you use them.
Your assessment is guided by your symptoms, history and the physical demands of your everyday activities.
Understand your symptoms
We discuss your pain, previous injuries, daily activities, previous treatment and personal goals.
Examine relevant movement
We evaluate neck and shoulder function, strength and mobility. Where appropriate, we also assess the thoracic spine, rib cage and shoulder blade movement.
Test meaningful changes
We explore suitable adjustments to movement, treatment or exercise, and assess how your symptoms and function respond.
More than just massage and stretching.
Treatment is individualised according to your assessment, goals, symptoms and response.
Hands-on treatment
Where appropriate, manual techniques may help manage symptoms and support movement as part of a broader rehabilitation programme.
Movement modification
Exploring different ways of moving the neck, shoulder and upper body during meaningful tasks.
Strength and coordination
Individual exercises to improve relevant strength, movement control and physical capacity.
Returning to activity
Practical guidance for desk work, daily activity, gym training, sport or other personal goals.
A sensation of tightness may reflect several factors, including physical demands or sensitivity. We consider whether stretching, strengthening, movement changes or other strategies are appropriate for you.
From desk workers to competitive athletes.
Neck and shoulder pain can affect people across different ages and activity levels.
Desk workers
Neck and shoulder discomfort during prolonged computer work and everyday activities.
Gym and HYROX participants
Symptoms during lifting, overhead movements and demanding training exercises.
Recreational athletes
Shoulder or neck pain affecting tennis, swimming, martial arts and other sports.
Everyday neck and shoulder pain
Discomfort with reaching, carrying, driving, sleeping and daily movement.
Experienced care. Individual clinical reasoning.
BHSc Physiotherapy / BSc Sports & Recreation
15+ years of clinical experience
I've worked with people experiencing neck and shoulder problems, from everyday discomfort to sports rehabilitation.
My approach is to understand the person, assess the painful area and relevant movement, and use clinical findings to guide individualised treatment.
Learn More About Yuji ↗Questions about neck and shoulder pain
Why does my neck hurt after working at a desk?
Neck discomfort during desk work may be influenced by sustained positions, workload, physical capacity, stress and other factors. There is no single perfect posture that prevents all neck pain. Changing positions and managing physical demands may be helpful.
Can shoulder pain come from my neck?
Yes. Some neck conditions can refer pain into the shoulder or arm. Shoulder joint and tendon conditions can also produce similar symptoms. Examination helps identify which factors may be involved.
Should I stretch my tight neck muscles?
Gentle stretching may feel helpful for some people, but it is not always necessary. Repeated stretching may aggravate certain symptoms. We assess what is appropriate for your condition.
Is poor posture causing my neck pain?
Posture alone is not a reliable explanation for every case of neck pain. Some positions may aggravate symptoms, but there is no universal ideal posture. Changing positions regularly and improving activity tolerance can be useful.
Can physiotherapy help rotator cuff-related shoulder pain?
Physiotherapy can help manage many cases of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain through individualised exercise, education and suitable activity modification. The approach depends on the diagnosis and clinical findings.
What if I have tingling or numbness in my arm?
Tingling or numbness can occur with certain nerve-related conditions. These symptoms require appropriate clinical assessment, especially if they are persistent or accompanied by weakness.
What happens during my initial consultation?
We discuss your symptoms, medical and activity history, examine relevant physical and movement factors, and provide treatment or exercise guidance where appropriate. Sessions are available in English and Japanese.
Seek urgent medical assessment for new or progressive neurological weakness, significant trauma, severe neck pain with fever or other concerning symptoms, or sudden severe unusual headache with neurological symptoms. Shoulder or arm discomfort with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating may indicate a medical emergency. This information does not replace medical diagnosis.
Let's understand what's happening with your neck and shoulders.
Whether you're experiencing recurring neck stiffness, shoulder pain or discomfort during everyday activities, start with an individual consultation at Yokohama Physio.
Book Initial Consultation ↗