Physical Therapy Services
Neck Pain
Care for the cervical spine and everyday neck strain.
Neck Pain
The neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. The cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.
How This Works
How neck pain care works at Omega Physical Therapy
The cervical spine is seven small vertebrae carrying the full weight of the head — about twelve pounds on average — while still allowing it to turn in nearly every direction. That combination of load and mobility is exactly why the neck is so susceptible to strain, and it is why an evaluation looks at the shoulders, upper back and posture as well as the neck itself.
Treatment is one-on-one and hands-on. Dr. Dmitry Shestakovsky, DPT uses manual manipulation and soft-tissue techniques, including osteopathic and spinal manipulation, alongside therapeutic rehabilitation aimed at the deep neck and shoulder-blade muscles that hold the head up all day. Desk setup, phone habits and sleeping position are usually part of the conversation, because those are what the neck goes back to between appointments.
What to Expect
One-on-One Care, Built Around You
Neck problems often show up as headaches, or as pain into the shoulder blade or arm, so the first visit maps where the symptoms actually travel.
Evaluation
A one-on-one assessment of neck range of motion, strength and joint mobility, plus a screen of the shoulder and upper back, and questions about what you do for hours at a time.
Hands-on treatment
Manual and soft-tissue work to the cervical and upper thoracic spine and the surrounding musculature, with manipulation used where the assessment indicates it.
Your home program
Specific mobility and strengthening work for the neck and shoulder blades, plus practical changes to screen height, seating and pillow position.
Follow-up and review
Movement and symptoms are rechecked each visit and the program is progressed or changed based on what has actually shifted.
Benefits
What neck pain care is used for
Physical therapy is individualized, and what any plan involves depends on your evaluation. These are the situations this kind of care is commonly used to address at our Brooklyn office.
- Addressing neck pain and a limited range of motion in the cervical spine
- Everyday strain from sustained postures — desk work, driving, phone and tablet use
- Neck-related symptoms that refer into the shoulder blade or upper back
- Building strength and mobility in the muscles that support the head and neck
Common Questions
Neck Pain FAQs
Is hands-on treatment of the neck painful?
It should not be. An irritable neck can be tender to work on and it is common to feel a little sore afterwards, in the same way a new exercise leaves you sore. Say so during the session if anything is sharp — pressure, position and technique are all adjustable, and manipulation is only used where it is appropriate for you.
Can neck problems cause headaches?
Headaches are a recognized feature of some neck conditions, which is why the evaluation asks about them and includes the joints and muscles at the base of the skull. Headaches have many other causes as well, so anything that does not fit is referred back to your physician.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
It depends on your insurance plan — some require a physician referral for physical therapy and some do not — and New York State sets its own rules for seeing a physical therapist directly. Rather than guess, call the office at (718) 996-9929 before your first visit with your plan details and we will tell you what yours needs.
What should I wear?
Something that leaves the neck and shoulders accessible — a t-shirt or vest rather than a high collar or a thick jumper. Long hair is easier tied back for the hands-on portion of the visit.
Is it covered by my insurance?
Omega Physical Therapy welcomes insurance and will do everything it can to help you receive as many benefits from your plan as possible. Because there are so many different plans and coverage options, the office cannot give a definite answer in advance — a copy of your insurance card is taken at your appointment so your coverage can be estimated. Cash, checks, debit cards and most major credit cards are also accepted. Call (718) 996-9929 with your plan details and the front desk will talk it through with you.
Have a question that is not here? Call (718) 996-9929 and we will answer it.