Neck and shoulder pain can turn everyday tasks into painful challenges — from looking over your shoulder while driving to simply reaching for a coffee cup.
When discomfort lingers or worsens, physical therapy offers real solutions that target the root of the problem, not just the symptoms.
Our expert team is here to help you move freely again — start your recovery with us today.
What’s Causing Your Neck and Shoulder Pain?
Many of our patients come to us unsure why their neck or shoulder pain started in the first place. That’s where our expertise makes a difference. Common causes of neck and shoulder pain include:
- Muscle strains from poor posture or overuse
- Degenerative changes like arthritis
- Pinched nerves in the cervical spine
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
- Stress and tension causing muscle tightness
Often, it’s a combination of factors — posture, repetitive motions, past injuries — that contribute to pain. Our role is to uncover the source and create a customized plan for lasting relief.
5 Signs It’s Time to See Your Physical Therapist
Neck and shoulder pain that lingers more than a few days isn’t something to ignore. It could be your body’s signal that professional help is needed. Look out for:
- Difficulty turning your head or raising your arm
- Pain that radiates down into your arm or hand
- Stiffness limiting your daily activities
- Muscle weakness or numbness
- Frequent headaches originating from your neck
How We Treat Neck and Shoulder Pain
Every treatment plan we create starts with a detailed evaluation. We want to know how your pain affects your life — from sleeping to working to exercising — so we can help you return to the activities you love.
Our approach to neck and shoulder pain often includes:
Manual Therapy
Hands-on techniques to release tight muscles, improve joint mobility, and reduce pain.
Targeted Therapeutic Exercise
Strengthening weak muscles and improving flexibility to restore balance and movement.
Dry Needling
Our dry needling technique help release muscle knots and improve blood flow.
McKenzie Spine Rehab
Especially effective for neck pain with radiating symptoms, our McKenzie Method techniques help centralize and reduce pain.
Postural and Ergonomic Training
We teach patients how to move and sit in ways that protect their neck and shoulders long-term.
Neubie Electrical Stimulation
Our advanced Neubie technology is often used for faster recovery and neuromuscular re-education.
Every plan is customized — your goals guide your care.
Why Physical Therapy Works for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Pain medications and rest might offer temporary relief, but they rarely fix the root cause of neck and shoulder problems. Physical therapy is different. Our treatments focus on restoring proper movement patterns, improving muscle strength, and reducing inflammation.
Research shows that exercise therapy combined with manual treatment provides excellent outcomes for neck and shoulder pain. In fact, a study published in Spine found that physical therapy reduced neck pain intensity by 75% in patients with chronic issues.
Our goal is not just to mask your symptoms — it’s to help you feel stronger, move better, and stay active without pain returning.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
Your first appointment is all about understanding you and your pain. We take the time to:
- Listen to your health history and symptoms
- Perform a physical assessment of your neck, shoulders, and posture
- Identify limitations in mobility, strength, and flexibility
- Create a personalized plan of care
- Begin treatment right away — because every day with less pain matters
We also provide guidance for exercises you can do at home to accelerate your recovery.
Serving Athens and Surrounding Communities with Expert Care
We proudly provide neck and shoulder pain relief to patients across Clarke County, Oconee County, Morgan County, Madison County, and beyond. Whether you visit us in East Athens, Danielsville, Madison, or Watkinsville, our team is ready to help you get back to the life you love.
Don’t Let Neck and Shoulder Pain Hold You Back
Life is too short to struggle with neck or shoulder pain that limits your day. We’ve been helping our Athens-area neighbors move better and feel stronger for over 22 years. Let us create a plan to help you heal, move, and live without pain.
Contact us today to schedule your first visit or book an appointment online.
Licensed Physical Therapist, MDT certified, and the CEO of East Athens Physical Therapy, serving communities across Clarke, Oconee, Madison, and Morgan counties. With over two decades of experience and certification in the McKenzie Method, Jim Mike combines hands-on care with cutting-edge technology to help patients recover faster and stay active.