Chronic Neck Pain: Causes, Solutions, and How Physiotherapy in Calgary Can Help

Chronic neck pain can sneak up on you—or hit suddenly—and make daily tasks like working, sleeping, or even turning your head incredibly frustrating. At our Calgary physiotherapy clinic, we see this issue every day—and we help patients find real, lasting relief (Fejer et al., 2006).

Let’s look at what causes chronic neck pain, what might be keeping it around, and how

physiotherapy can make a real difference.

What Causes Chronic Neck Pain?

The cervical spine supports the head (about 10–12 lbs) and allows wide motion—but its

flexibility also makes it vulnerable (Bogduk, 2003).

Common Contributors:

1. Tech Neck & Poor Posture

Forward-head posture increases strain on cervical structures (Hansraj, 2014; Neupane et

al., 2017).

2. Muscle Imbalances

Overactive upper traps and weak deep neck flexors reduce joint support and lead to poor mechanics (Falla et al., 2004).

3. Joint & Disc Degeneration

Conditions like arthritis or disc herniation can refer pain or restrict movement (Bogduk,

2003).

4. Stress & Tension

Psychological stress leads to increased neck muscle activity and reduced pain thresholds (Vasseljen et al., 2009).

5. Past Injuries

Old whiplash injuries can cause long-term pain if untreated (Sterling, 2014).

Daily Habits That Worsen Neck Pain

• Wrong pillow height (Gordon et al., 2010)

• Prolonged sitting without movement (Cagnie et al., 2007)

• High stress & poor sleep (Lee et al., 2016)

• Poor desk ergonomics (Szeto et al., 2005)

Physiotherapy in Calgary: Your Path to Neck Pain Relief

1. Comprehensive Assessment

We look at posture, joint mobility, muscle strength, and lifestyle (Jull et al., 2009).

2. Manual Therapy

Joint mobilizations, soft tissue release, and dry needling reduce pain and improve motion (Gross et al., 2015; Llamas-Ramos et al., 2014).

3. Postural & Movement Retraining

We teach you better movement patterns to reduce cervical stress (Kim et al., 2015).

4. Strengthening Program

We target:

• Deep cervical flexors (chin tucks)

• Scapular stabilizers (retractions)

• Isometrics for endurance (Kay et al., 2005; Falla et al., 2004)
  

5. Pain Education & Management

Understanding pain reduces fear-avoidance behavior and supports healing (Louw et al., 2011).

At-Home Strategies

• Align your screen at eye level

• Stretch every 30–60 minutes

• Use heat or ice as needed

• Try deep breathing and relaxation

• Be consistent with your exercise plan

Find Relief at Our Calgary Physiotherapy Clinic

You don’t have to live with chronic neck pain. At our MacLeod Trail location (8989 MacLeod Trail SW, Calgary), our team offers personalized, evidence-based care to help you move better and feel stronger.

We proudly serve patients across South Calgary, including Haysboro, Kingsland, and

Fairview.

Book today

Let’s tackle your neck pain together. Book your appointment online or contact our team to start your recovery today.

Bibliography

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Musculoskeletal Pain, 11(1-2), 7–21.

 Cagnie, B., et al. (2007). Prevalence and associated factors of neck pain in office

workers. European Spine Journal, 16(5), 679–686.

 Falla, D. L., et al. (2004). Deep cervical flexor muscle dysfunction in patients with

chronic neck pain. Spine, 29(19), 2108–2114.

 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.

 Gordon, S. J., et al. (2010). The influence of pillow height on cervico-thoracic spine

alignment. Manual Therapy, 15(6), 593–598.

 Gross, A. R., et al. (2015). Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted

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Reviews, (9).

 Hansraj, K. K. (2014). Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and

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 Kim, S. Y., et al. (2015). Effect of cervical posture correction on neck pain. Journal of

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 Lee, H., et al. (2016). The impact of poor sleep on pain sensitivity. Journal of Clinical

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 Llamas-Ramos, R., et al. (2014). Effectiveness of dry needling on chronic neck

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 Louw, A., et al. (2011). The efficacy of pain neuroscience education on musculoskeletal

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 Neupane, S., et al. (2017). The association of neck pain with prolonged sitting. BMJ

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 Sterling, M. (2014). Physiotherapy management of whiplash-associated

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 Szeto, G. P., et al. (2005). A field study on upper limb posture and muscle activity in

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