Physical Therapy for Neck Pain & Headaches

Woman holding her neck neck pain reform physical therapy

At Reform Physical Therapy, we understand how debilitating neck pain can be—whether it stems from poor posture, an injury, or years of muscle tension. Our licensed physical therapists create individualized plans to address both the symptoms and the root cause of your neck discomfort.

Common Goals of Neck Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for neck pain typically focuses on:

Improving head and neck range of motion
Reducing stiffness and chronic or acute pain
Strengthening the neck and surrounding muscles
Enhancing posture for long-term relief
Preventing future flare-ups through home exercises and education

How We Help

Neck issues often arise from poor ergonomics, whiplash, arthritis, or even stress. At Reform Physical Therapy, we take a hands-on approach to evaluate posture, movement patterns, and muscular imbalances. Your treatment plan may include:

Manual therapy and stretching
Targeted strengthening exercises
Postural training and education
Heat or cold therapy
Home care recommendations

Though complete elimination of neck pain isn’t always possible, physical therapy can greatly reduce symptoms, improve spinal alignment, and support daily function.

Serving Southern Maine

We offer neck pain therapy at all seven Reform PT locations, including South Portland, Freeport, Brunswick, and Topsham. Find a clinic near you or contact us to schedule an evaluation.

Conditions We Treat for Neck Pain

Whiplash is characterized by neck strain caused after a jerk or sudden movement forward or backward, causing the neck to extend beyond its typical range of motion. The unexpected force often causes the muscles and tendons in the neck to stretch and tear.

Typically, a result of muscle sprain or strain, a pinched nerve involves the tendons, bones, and/or tissues pushing or rubbing against nerves, which interrupts the nerve function. This process usually results in pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

A neck sprain involves a torn ligament. A neck strain involves a torn muscle and/or tendon. Both injuries are typically the result of a sudden trauma or injury to the neck.

Most commonly resulting from overuse or ‘wear and tear’, a herniated disc occurs when a spinal disc becomes torn, allowing the soft interior of the disc to bulge or leak out of the disc.

A fractured cervical spine happens when one or more of the cervical bones is fractured, most commonly caused by high-force or sudden trauma to the cervical spine.

Neck pain & headaches can be caused by a myriad of things. Among other techniques, therapy may include applying heat or ice, dynamic stretching, gentle strengthening, dry needling, traction, manual therapy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Muscular neck pain usually feels like tightness, stiffness, or soreness in the muscles around your neck and shoulders. Nerve-related pain often feels sharper and may travel into your arm, shoulder blade, or hand. You might also notice numbness, tingling, or weakness. During your evaluation, your physical therapist can quickly determine the source of your symptoms and create a plan that matches what your body needs.

Yes. Many headaches are caused by irritated joints and tight muscles in the neck. Physical therapy can improve how your neck moves, reduce tension, and restore better posture. Most people notice that their headaches become less frequent and less intense as the underlying neck issues improve.

In Maine, you can begin physical therapy without a referral. If you already have one, great—but if not, you can still schedule an appointment right away. If your therapist feels a referral or imaging is needed, they’ll guide you through the next steps.

Try to avoid activities or positions that increase your pain—especially long periods of looking down at a phone, working without good posture, or sleeping in awkward positions. Gentle movement is usually better than rest. Your therapist will show you what to avoid and what to modify based on your specific condition.

Many patients feel relief within the first few visits. More chronic or complex issues may take longer, but consistent therapy and a home program can make a big difference. Your therapist will give you a realistic timeline based on your goals and how your body responds.

Your therapist will talk with you about your symptoms, do a full evaluation of your neck and upper body, check your posture and movement, and look for any nerve involvement. From there, they’ll create a personalized plan that includes hands-on treatment, targeted exercises, and guidance for what you should be doing at home.

Often, yes. Radiating symptoms can be caused by irritated nerves or tight joints in the neck. PT focuses on improving mobility, reducing inflammation, strengthening supporting muscles, and helping the nerve move more freely—often reducing or eliminating those symptoms.

Your treatment depends on your symptoms but may include manual therapy, soft tissue work, joint mobilization, dry needling (when appropriate), mobility and strengthening exercises, posture training, and education on daily habits that support healing.