Neck and shoulder pain? Let’s loosen things up
Hours on a laptop, a heavy bag on the Northern line, overhead lifting in the gym or a night on the wrong pillow. Neck and shoulder pain is one of the most common things we treat in Kentish Town, and most of it gets much better.
★★★★★ 5-star Google reviews from our Kentish Town patients
Quick answer: Most neck and shoulder pain is not caused by damage and improves within weeks with movement, strength work and hands-on treatment. Pain or tingling down the arm often comes from the neck. Our Kentish Town clinic inside Thrive, Gordon House Road, NW5 1LP, can assess you, often the same day.
Is it your neck or your shoulder?
Pain across the top of the shoulder that spreads into the neck usually starts in the neck. Pain on the outside of the upper arm when you lift it usually starts in the shoulder. And pins and needles down the arm usually means an irritated nerve in the neck. We test all three so you treat the right thing.
How flexible is your shoulder? Try this ten second test.
Can you touch your hands behind your back?
Desk neck
Stiffness and ache
Builds through the day, often with headaches.
Trapped nerve
Arm pain and tingling
Pain, pins and needles or weakness down one arm.
Rotator cuff pain
Lifting the arm
Ache on the outside of the arm, worse overhead.
Gym shoulder
Pressing and pulling
Usually a load issue we can fix while you keep training.
Neck or shoulder stopping you?
Book at our Kentish Town clinic, often the same day.
What helps
- Little and often movement through the day
- Hands-on treatment to ease stiff joints and tight muscles
- Strength for the deep neck, shoulder blade and rotator cuff muscles
- Desk, laptop and phone changes you can actually keep up
- A plan for arm symptoms, with referral if needed
Exercise
plus manual therapy is recommended for persistent neck pain
Bier et al, Phys Ther 2018
No better
than placebo surgery: shoulder decompression for subacromial pain
Beard et al, Lancet 2018 (CSAW)
~5
sessions is typical for our patients to reach their goals
BOOST PHYSIO patient data
Trapped nerve in the neck? Hands-on treatment options
Hands-on treatment can ease a trapped nerve in the neck, combined with exercises you do at home.
Get urgent help if you have
- Neck pain after a fall or accident
- Weakness in both arms or legs, or problems walking
- Severe headache unlike any before, or neck stiffness with fever and a rash: call 999
- Shoulder pain with chest pain or breathlessness: call 999
Meet your Kentish Town physios
Tanvi has a special interest in neck and spinal problems, and Zoe treats long-standing pain and injuries.
Zoe Katz
Senior Physiotherapist
Zoe treats injuries and long-standing pain, helping patients understand their pain and build back strength.
Tanvi Parikh
Senior Physiotherapist
Tanvi has a special interest in back and neck pain, spinal conditions and rehab after surgery.
What our Kentish Town patients say
★★★★★
“I came to Tanvi with problematic shoulder that would not get better on its own.”
★★★★★
“I’ve had a really positive experience at BOOST PHYSIO, where I’ve been receiving dedicated treatment plan for an IT band injury in my knee.”
★★★★★
“I have had a few consultations now with Zoe and she has made me feel like I am well supported by her and that I will have a positive outcome.”
Watch: neck and shoulder advice
Short videos our physios use with neck and shoulder patients.
Neck pain hands-on treatment
Resistance band rotator cuff exercises
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 Kentish Town 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 Crouch End, Swiss Cottage or Hampstead, or read more about neck pain physio and shoulder pain physio.
Ease your neck and shoulder pain
Book at BOOST PHYSIO Kentish Town, Thrive, Gordon House Road, NW5 1LP.
Related reading
Your questions answered
Where is your Kentish Town clinic?
Inside Thrive, Unit 19, Spectrum House, 32-34 Gordon House Road, NW5 1LP, close to Gospel Oak station and Parliament Hill.
Is a standing desk worth it?
It can help if it means you move more. Changing position regularly matters more than any single perfect posture.
Should I stop lifting with shoulder pain?
Usually not completely. We will help you adjust your programme so you keep training while it settles.
Do I need a GP referral to see a physio?
No. You can book directly with us online, by phone or on WhatsApp. If you are claiming on private medical insurance, check with your insurer first, as some ask for a GP or specialist referral.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the problem and your goals. On average our patients reach their goals in around 5 sessions, and we will give you an honest estimate at your first appointment in Kentish Town.
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 Zoe Katz and Tanvi Parikh at BOOST PHYSIO Kentish Town. Last reviewed 12 November 2026.
References
- Bier JD et al. Clinical practice guideline for physical therapy assessment and treatment in patients with nonspecific neck pain. Phys Ther 2018;98:162-171.
- Beard DJ et al. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for subacromial shoulder pain (CSAW). Lancet 2018;391:329-338.
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.
