Neck Pain Treatment Oakville
How your Oakville chiropractor and physiotherapy team treat your neck pain depends on its underlying cause. Neck pain can develop for various reasons, from lifting children or sleeping in an awkward position to prolonged desk work or excessive phone use.
Our Oakville chiropractors specialize in spine health and treat neck pain daily, using expert techniques to provide relief and restore mobility. Whether your discomfort is due to posture, muscle strain, or spinal misalignment, our team is here to help.
Neck Pain Anatomy with Dr. Steve Knighton
Neck and Spine Pain Steps to Treatment
There are a number of different structures and conditions of the neck that can be responsible for neck pain. The joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves can all cause discomfort. Regardless of where the neck pain originated, our chiropractors are skilled at getting rid of it!
There are 7 cervical spine segments, 12 thoracic spine segments, 6 or 7 ribs on each of your spine and a whole bunch of different muscles that could be causing your neck pain.
Cervical Spine Treatment Video
Thoracic Spine Treatment Video
What Our Patients Are saying
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Dr. Steve and his assistant Laura did a great job of healing my jaw pain. Laura was always so professional and her Shockwave treatment really helped ease the pain.
![Suzanne Di Stefano [Staff] Avatar](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%200%200'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Suzanne Di Stefano [Staff]
June 7, 2024I would definitely recommend the Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre for anyone in need of chiropractic services. Dr. Steve significantly improved my back posture after two to three sessions; the staff are both friendly and professional, and the atmosphere is very relaxing.
Rick Dong
October 7, 2024Great clinic. Pain free after few visits.
Mario M
February 6, 2025 -
Dr. Jenn is terrific and has helped me so much over the years. She is very progressive and uses many different methods (technology, acupuncture, tools) to go beyond traditional chiropractic and resolve issues (acute and chronic). I also like how her office direct bills my insurance for me. Highly recommend!
Dr. Alison MacDougall
November 7, 2024I’ve been seeing Dr. Steve for the past few months, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the care and attention I’ve received. From the very first visit, Dr. Steve took the time to thoroughly assess my concerns and explain the treatment plan in detail. I’ve struggled with neck pain... read more
Anjana Bhaskaran
December 10, 2024I was initially reluctant to try another chiropractor after a series of bad experiences that left me in more pain. However, my husband visited Dr. Steve at Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre following a scary knee injury and had nothing but amazing things to say about his care. He booked me... read more
Ingy ES
September 7, 2024 -
Another great experience, thanks for keeping me going!
Guillaume Grincourt
June 7, 2024I was referred by another friend. Upon my arrival, I felt welcomed by the staff and without any delay, I was treated immediately. It gave me much reljef needed and I can recommend to snyone whk need similar treatment.
Rudolph Sequeira
July 7, 2024very well organized!!! Dr.very professional highly reccomended!!!
yaroslav dvorskyy
October 7, 2024
![Suzanne Di Stefano [Staff] Avatar](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjVVBaTrZmdNMyTEvH2oSjRTe9OJv9g3RWcD3b6nbFw36AAxGNuG=s120-c-rp-mo-br100)
4 Steps to Treat Neck Pain!
1. Interferential Current Therapy and Heat (IFC)
IFC and Heat are applied to the neck muscles and upper back. This helps loosen up the tissue, relieve pain and increase blood flow to the areas that will be worked on during treatment, Patients love the Interferential Current Therapy or IFC as it feels like a deep massage.
2. Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave Therapy for neck pain: Shockwave is a pneumatic gun that shoots a bullet against an applicator head that contacts the patients injured areas. For neck treatments, Dr. Steve usually performs about 800 to 1000 hits on each side of the patients spine. He will usually focus on the areas of pain finding the root cause of the muscle tension.
3. Active Release and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Treatment
ART and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue work: If you have been a patient of the clinic before, there is nothing more intimidating than when Dr. Steve says he is going to be using his thumbs and scraper. ART or Active Release involves pressure placed by the chiropractor on a tight and tender muscle or joint and them move the muscle in a specific way. For neck pain, we usually focus on the Traps, Levator Scapulae, Subocciptials and Rhomboid muscles. IAST or Instrumented Assisted Soft Tissue Treatment involves a metal tool that Dr. Steve uses to “scrape” the adhesions out of tight muscles.
4. Chiropractic Adjustment
Spinal Manipulation: The final step and the reason for all the treatment before hand is the chiropractic adjustment. Our chiropractor will find a sticky or stuck joint in the patients neck and upper back and possibly rib and get them back into place. At our Oakville clinic Dr. Steve is adamant that our patients get the above protocol before adjusting as it makes for a much better adjustment and allows the patients to heal faster!
7 Causes of Neck Pain:
1. Degenerative Disc Disease & Degenerative Joint Disease
Many patients come to our clinic with spinal X-rays showing degenerative disc or joint disease (DDD/DJD) in the neck. While these images may look concerning, our chiropractors have reassuring news—degeneration doesn’t always cause pain. Even those with no neck pain can have significantly degenerated X-rays.
The takeaway? Degenerative changes aren’t necessarily the root of your discomfort. Our chiropractors specialize in effective neck pain treatment, regardless of what your X-rays show.
Dr. Steve avoids unnecessary X-rays because most patients don’t need them to resolve their issues. Too much information can be misleading, as degenerative changes don’t always correlate with pain. If our Oakville chiropractors X-rayed every patient, our approach would be very different.
Most patients with neck pain—acute or chronic—see improvements in range of motion, posture, and symptoms within 10 to 12 treatments. If X-rays were routinely used, findings could lead to extended treatment plans of up to 40 visits, even when unnecessary. Our chiropractors focus on treating symptoms first and addressing the root cause second, ensuring you return to your routine as quickly as possible.
As we age, mild arthritis in the neck is common. By 40, many show signs of degeneration, especially in the 4th to 7th cervical vertebrae. Over time, discs dehydrate, bringing bones closer together and causing stiffness.
Degenerative disc and joint disease (DDD/DJD) often lead to limited motion and discomfort rather than acute pain. Symptoms develop gradually, not suddenly. Our chiropractic team ensures an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment for your neck pain.
2. Cervical Neck Sprain
Just like an ankle sprain, neck ligaments can overstretch and sprain, often due to trauma like falls, car accidents, or direct impact. This excessive movement causes pain and dysfunction as normally tight ligaments fail to keep bones aligned, prompting muscles to tighten for protection.
The neck’s wide range of motion makes it more vulnerable to sprains. Ligaments connect bones and prevent excessive joint movement, running along the vertebrae, spinal column, and between vertebral protrusions. Sprains are classified as mild (Grade I) to severe (Grade III), with increasing swelling and instability.
3. Cervical Muscle Strain
Muscle strains are among the most common neck injuries treated by our chiropractic team. They range from mild, causing dull discomfort, to severe, resulting in sharp pain.
Muscles function best at an optimal length. When overstretched, a built-in stretch reflex triggers contraction to prevent excessive elongation. However, this response can sometimes linger, leading to tight, painful muscles.
In more severe cases, excessive stretching can cause muscle tears, leading to bruising, swelling, pain, and restricted movement.
4. Cervical Facet Syndrome
Facet joints allow neck movement, but when they become stiff or stuck, they can cause significant pain. A mild twist or awkward movement can be enough to lock them up.
Pain can stem from the joints themselves, nearby muscles, or nerves, often radiating to the shoulders, head, or even causing headaches and ear ringing.
If you wake up with sharp neck pain and limited movement, a locked facet joint may be the cause. In severe cases, pain can extend to the arms and hands due to nerve irritation.
5. Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Dr. Jenn explains that cervical stenosis typically affects people over 50. It occurs when bony buildup narrows the spinal or lateral canal, impacting nerves. As cartilage wears down, bones rub together, triggering excess bone growth that can press on nerves and blood vessels, causing symptoms in the arms and hands.
Common symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms or hands. Grip strength may decline, and fine motor skills can be affected. In severe cases, sensation may diminish, and the skin may appear pale or bluish.
6. Cervical Radiculopathy and Shooting Pain
7. Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash is often associated with car accidents, but it can result from any forceful impact, such as sports injuries, falls, or physical altercations. Our Oakville chiropractors are certified to treat motor vehicle accident (MVA) claims and other whiplash-related injuries.
When the head is rapidly forced back and forth, some neck muscles overstretch and reflexively contract to prevent excessive movement. This lingering muscle spasm can cause tightness and discomfort. In more severe cases, ligaments may also be overstretched, leading to neck pain, shoulder/arm discomfort, reduced range of motion, headaches, stiffness, and dizziness. Severe whiplash can also cause blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and sleep disturbances. Whiplash is classified from Grade I (mild) to Grade IV (severe cases with fractures or dislocations).
Oakville Acupuncture for Neck Pain
Acupuncture is great for neck pain and headaches. Really great. When muscles are too tight, it only takes a few acupuncture needles to relieve the tension. Our Oakville Acupuncturist says for the less severe tight muscles that result from stress and too much desk-work, acupuncture works like a charm. Sticking some needles into the muscle knots in the back of the neck and shoulders helps them relax and significantly reduces the feeling of tension and headaches. Stress that is carried in the shoulders and neck is no match for acupuncture needles. Learn more about an acupuncture treatment in Oakville.
The more serious injuries also respond well to acupuncture. Any condition involving the facet joints and referred pain can be effectively treated with acupuncture. Radiculopathy injuries where pain is felt into the arm and hand involve nerve irritation, and acupuncture is designed to treat the nerves. All acupuncture points are aligned along nerve pathways, and inserting a needle into the hand can have an effect all the way up the arm.
Exercises for Neck Pain
All of the patients with neck pain at our Oakville chiropractic clinic will receive stretches and exercises to complete at part of their rehab program. These stretches will help to lengthen tight muscles and the exercise will help strengthen the deep neck musculature. Improving the strength of the neck muscles helps support the spine and improve posture to keep the head and neck in optimal positions that helps to limit pain and discomfort.
Our chiropractors have put together a comprehensive list of neck stretches to address all the key muscles of the head and neck. They have also designed a complete exercise program for people suffering from neck pain, as well as those looking to improve their posture.