Physical therapist performing dry needling on a patient's neck.

Neck & Shoulder Physical Therapy

Find the kink in the hose, not just the sore spot.

Your neck and shoulders are a connected system, not separate parts. Chasing the spot that hurts rarely solves anything, because the root cause is usually somewhere else along the line.

Learn More

Talk to Dr. Riley

The Frustration

Waking up unable to turn your head.

Living with a constant ache that spreads from your neck into your shoulders by the end of the workday, or that "perpetual knot" behind your shoulder blade that won't quit. No matter what pillow you buy, you still wake up stiff.

It's a cycle of stretching and massaging areas that never seem to loosen up — leaving you stuck in a body that won't move the way you need it to.

The No-B.S. Reality

It's one system, not separate parts.

Chasing the "spot that hurts" rarely solves the problem, because the root cause is often elsewhere — a stiff joint in the neck, or nerves referring pain down your back.

Dr. Riley uses a hybrid lens to find out why your muscles are clenching in the first place, so the stiffness doesn't just come back in a different spot.

Four ways it shows up

Same connected system, different symptoms.

Here's what usually brings people in.

Crick in the Neck

Waking up and finding you can't turn your head one way without sharp, significant pain. It feels like something is "caught" or "pinched," making every movement a gamble.

"Knot" in the Shoulder Blade

Having a perpetual knot behind your shoulder blade that won't go away no matter how much you dig into it. You might get regular massages for short-term relief, but the tension always returns within a few days.

That "knot" is often a lie - the pain is frequently referred from irritated nerves or joints in your neck. It can even be referred pain from a muscular problem. Digging into the shoulder blade won't fix a neck issue. We assess the whole system to identify the true source of the irritation so you can finally stop chasing symptoms and get real relief.

Talk to Dr. Riley to get to the root of the problem.

Chronic Stiffness & the "Posture" Myth

Feeling like your shoulders are constantly up at your ears and blaming it on "bad posture". You try to sit up straight, but you're back to slouching and aching five minutes later. Sometimes this "perfect posture" even makes you feel worse.

Muscles often tighten up because they are weak, not because they are "short" or because your posture is "bad". They are clenching for dear life to give you the support you're missing.

The secret? The best posture is frequent movement, not a static position. Dr. Riley focuses on building functional strength so your muscles don't have to clench to keep you upright - they just do the job they're made for.

Talk to Dr. Riley to dispel the fear of "bad posture".

Numbness & Tingling

Experiencing burning, shooting pain, or numbness that travels down your arm and into your hand. It’s distracting, scary, and often gets worse when you’re on your phone or computer.

Your nerves start in your neck and travel all the way to your fingertips. Irritation anywhere along that path can cause symptoms down your arm and even into your hand. By evaluating nerve tension and mobility, we find exactly where the "kink in the hose" is and use nerve gliding and strengthening to eliminate the tingling or pain and get you back to your life.

Talk to Dr. Riley to return to normal sensation.