Stiff, sore neck? Let’s get it moving again
Hours at a laptop, a long commute, a bad night’s sleep or a stressful week. Neck pain is one of the most common reasons people visit our Hendon clinic, and the good news is it usually responds well to the right care.
★★★★★ 5.0 on Google from 285 reviews of our Hendon clinic
Quick answer: Most neck pain comes from a combination of sustained posture, muscle tension and reduced movement rather than damage, and improves with regular movement, hands-on treatment and specific exercise. Get help urgently if you have weakness, clumsiness or symptoms in both arms. Our Hendon clinic is at 16 Parson Street, NW4 1QB.
Why necks get sore
Your neck is designed to move. When it stays still in one position for hours, looking down at a laptop or phone, the joints stiffen and the muscles across the top of the shoulders tire and tighten. Add stress, poor sleep or a long drive on the M1 and the ache builds.
There is no single perfect posture. The best posture is the next one: changing position often matters more than sitting perfectly still.
Our Hendon physio shows how to test your neck mobility
A quick neck mobility check
- Turn your head slowly to look over each shoulder: can you get your chin close to in line with your shoulder on both sides?
- Tip your ear towards each shoulder without lifting the shoulder
- Look up to the ceiling and down to your chest
- If one direction is clearly stiffer or painful, or movement brings on arm symptoms, it is worth an assessment
Posture-related neck pain
Desk, laptop, phone
A dull ache that builds through the day and eases with movement and time away from the screen.
Wry neck
Waking up stuck
Sudden pain and stiffness turning the head, often after sleeping awkwardly. Usually settles within days to a couple of weeks.
Trapped nerve
Pain down the arm
Pain, tingling or numbness down the arm from an irritated nerve in the neck.
Neck-related headaches
Cervicogenic headache
Headaches starting at the base of the skull, often linked to stiffness in the upper neck.
Book a neck pain assessment in Hendon
No GP referral needed. Book online, call us or send a WhatsApp.
What actually helps
- Movement breaks every 30 to 45 minutes, even for a minute
- Raise your laptop so the top of the screen is roughly at eye level, with a separate keyboard
- Gentle neck and upper back mobility exercises through the day
- Strengthening for the deep neck and shoulder blade muscles
- Hands-on treatment and, where suitable, acupuncture to ease pain and stiffness
Our Hendon physio shares exercises for neck and shoulder tension
Exercise
for the neck, shoulders and upper back is one of the best-supported treatments for ongoing neck pain
Gross et al, Cochrane Review 2015
Most
episodes of acute neck pain improve within a few weeks
NHS; NICE CKS
~5
sessions is typical for our patients to reach their goals
BOOST PHYSIO patient data
Necks love movement. Small, frequent changes through the day do more than one long stretch at the end of it.
When to seek urgent medical help
- Weakness, numbness or clumsiness in both arms or legs, or problems with balance or walking
- Neck pain after a significant fall or accident
- Neck pain with fever, a severe headache, or feeling very unwell
- Sudden severe neck pain with dizziness, double vision or difficulty speaking: call 999
Meet your Hendon physios
Michael English
Specialist Physiotherapist
Michael was Lead Academy Physio at Brentford FC and now treats patients at our Hendon and Mill Hill clinics, from sports injuries to everyday aches and pains.
Aaran Purwaha-Sidhu
Senior Physiotherapist
Aaran treats knee, shoulder and back pain in Hendon and uses shockwave and acupuncture alongside exercise rehab where they are a good fit.
Sarah Shamia
Senior Physiotherapist
Sarah helps Hendon patients with persistent pain, sports injuries and recovery after surgery, taking time to understand the whole picture.
Micki Hammond
Senior Physiotherapist
Micki treats sports injuries and back pain in Hendon and has a particular interest in rehab after hip and knee surgery.
Soma Fershi
Chartered Physiotherapist
Soma treats sports and gym injuries at our Hendon and Hampstead Garden Suburb clinics, with a strong focus on getting you back to training safely.
What our Hendon patients say
★★★★★
“Micki is a magician she has literally helped me from my neck to my foot.”
★★★★★
“Very good session with Aaran. Detailed medical debrief, and he identified the problem very quickly.”
★★★★★
“Boost physio I would say ‘Best Physio’ I ever experienced, Sarah so expert, professional attitude, and very patient kind and friendly, Tania at reception desk extra helpful together with rest of the team…”
Watch: neck pain help from our physios
Short videos from our team.
Private physio treatment in Hendon NW4
Hands-on treatment options for a trapped nerve in the neck
How to help back and neck stiffness at work
One clinic, the experience of a whole team
Something our patients don’t always realise is how much support sits behind each physio. Our team trains together twice a month and every physio has a dedicated mentor who reviews cases with them, so when you see us in Hendon you get the experience of the whole BOOST PHYSIO group.
- Same day appointments, seven days a week across our clinics
- No GP referral needed
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, WPA and Aviva
Prefer another clinic? Book at BOOST PHYSIO Hampstead Garden Suburb, Mill Hill or East Finchley, or read more about our Hendon clinic. Considering acupuncture? Read does acupuncture help neck pain?
Ease your neck pain
Book at BOOST PHYSIO Hendon, 16 Parson Street, NW4.
Related reading
Neck pain physio
Does acupuncture help neck pain?
Shoulder pain in HendonPinched nerve treatment
How to improve your postureChiropractor or physio in Hendon?Your questions answered
How do I know if my neck pain is serious?
Most neck pain is not serious. Seek urgent help if you have weakness or numbness in both arms or legs, problems with balance, a fever, a severe headache or pain after a significant accident.
What is the best sleeping position for neck pain?
Sleeping on your back or side with a pillow that keeps your neck level with the rest of your spine suits most people. Avoid sleeping on your front with your head turned.
Can a physio help with neck-related headaches?
Yes. Headaches that start at the base of the skull and are linked to neck stiffness often respond well to hands-on treatment and exercise.
How quickly will my neck pain improve?
Many people feel better within a few sessions. Longer-standing pain can take longer and needs consistent exercise.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book directly online, by phone or on WhatsApp. If you are claiming on health insurance, check whether your insurer needs a GP referral first.
Can I get a same day appointment?
Often, yes. Same day appointments are available most days across our clinics. Booking online shows you what is free right now.
Written and clinically reviewed by Steven Berkman, BSc Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town), HCPC-registered chartered physiotherapist, MCSP, founder of BOOST PHYSIO in 2008, with Michael English, Aaran Purwaha-Sidhu, Sarah Shamia, Micki Hammond and Soma Fershi at BOOST PHYSIO Hendon. Last reviewed 12 November 2026.
References
- Gross A et al. Exercises for mechanical neck disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015;1:CD004250.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Neck pain: non-specific. cks.nice.org.uk.
- NHS. Neck pain. nhs.uk.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are unsure what is causing your symptoms, book an assessment or speak to your GP. If you have severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, call 111 or 999.
