Neck & Cervical Disorders

The Modern Epidemic of Neck Pain

Neck pain has overtaken low back pain as the fastest-growing musculoskeletal complaint of the past decade — and the cause is largely cultural. Hours spent hunched over phones, laptops and tablets, combined with reduced movement, has produced what specialists now call "tech neck": a forward head posture that loads the cervical spine with up to 27 kg (60 lbs) of effective weight at 60° of flexion, compared to roughly 5 kg in neutral position.

At Réhabital in Côte Saint-Luc (CSL), Montreal, neck pain is the second most common reason for physiotherapy consultation after low back pain. Our physiotherapists treat the full range of cervical disorders: acute strains, whiplash from motor vehicle accidents, chronic mechanical neck pain, cervicogenic headaches, postural-related neck pain in office workers from Westmount and Hampstead, and post-surgical cervical rehabilitation.

Cervical Conditions We Treat

• Mechanical neck pain — the everyday "I slept funny" or "my neck just locked up at work" presentations

• Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) — typically following motor vehicle accidents

• Cervicogenic headaches — headaches originating from the upper cervical spine, often misdiagnosed as migraine

• Cervical disc herniation — with or without arm pain (cervical radiculopathy)

• Cervical osteoarthritis & cervical spondylosis — degenerative changes in the cervical spine

• Tech neck and forward head posture — the postural epidemic of desk workers

• Thoracic outlet syndrome — nerve and vascular compression in the neck/shoulder region

• Post-surgical cervical rehabilitation — after ACDF, cervical fusion or disc replacement

• Cervical instability — including post-concussion cervical dysfunction

Our Cervical Physiotherapy Approach

Modern physiotherapy for neck pain is firmly evidence-based. The Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and updated JOSPT Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend a combination of manual therapy and specific exercise as the most effective intervention. Our protocol includes:

1. Differential assessment. Distinguishing between mechanical neck pain, cervicogenic headache, radiculopathy, whiplash, and other causes is essential — each responds best to a different combination of techniques. Our physiotherapists use validated clinical tests (cervical flexion-rotation test, Spurling's, upper limb tension tests) to identify the specific pain generator.

2. Manual therapy. Cervical and thoracic joint mobilizations (especially of the often-neglected upper thoracic spine), soft tissue release of the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipitals and scalenes, and neural mobilizations when nerve involvement is present.

3. Deep neck flexor training. One of the most evidence-supported elements of cervical rehabilitation. The deep cervical flexors (longus colli, longus capitis) are typically weak and inhibited in chronic neck pain — specific re-training reduces pain and recurrence dramatically.

4. Postural and ergonomic re-education. Workstation setup, screen height, phone use habits, and upper-quarter postural awareness throughout the day. We provide practical, sustainable changes — not unrealistic demands.

5. Vestibular and ocular components. Many cervical patients — particularly those with whiplash or post-concussion presentations — have associated vestibular and visual-motor dysfunction that benefits from specific rehabilitation.

Cervical Physiotherapy and Osteopathy

The neck is one of the most rewarding areas for combining physiotherapy with osteopathy. While physiotherapy excels at active rehabilitation and motor retraining, osteopathy can address restrictions in regions that profoundly influence the cervical spine — the upper thoracic spine, ribs, cranium, and even the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Cranial osteopathy is particularly effective for cervicogenic headaches and post-concussion symptoms; articular techniques restore mobility to thoracic and rib restrictions that perpetuate cervical compensations; and myofascial techniques release the deep fascial restrictions of the cervico-thoracic junction. For chronic neck pain, the combined approach is often the difference between temporary relief and lasting resolution.

For more, see our blog posts Osteopathy for Neck Pain in Montreal and Osteopathy for Desk-Related Pain.

What About Headaches?

A surprisingly large proportion of headaches — up to 20% according to International Headache Society criteria — are cervicogenic, meaning they originate from the upper cervical spine but are felt in the head. Telltale signs: pain starting in the neck or sub-occipital region before spreading forward, one-sided distribution, worse with sustained postures, and reproducible with cervical movement. Cervicogenic headaches respond extremely well to physiotherapy combined with osteopathy — most patients see major reduction within 4–6 sessions.

Why Réhabital for Cervical Care in Montreal?

Located at Cavendish Mall, Côte Saint-Luc, our clinic offers cervical-specialty physiotherapy alongside osteopathy, massage therapy and acupuncture. Easy access from Hampstead, Westmount, NDG, Snowdon, Mont-Royal and Côte-des-Neiges. Direct billing for most private insurance plans. Book your assessment today and stop letting neck pain define your day.