Neck Pain or Stiffness Physical Therapy
THE FRUSTRATION: Waking up unable to turn your head because of a painful "crick," or living with a constant ache that spreads from your neck into your shoulders by the end of the work day or develops into that "perpetual knot". You might feel like your daily activities are a life sentence for your spine, or that 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 feeling stuck in a body that won't move the way you need it to.
THE NO-B.S. REALITY: Your neck and shoulders are a connected system, not separate parts. Chasing the "spot that hurts" rarely solves the problem because the root cause is often elsewhere - like a stiff joint in the neck or nerves that are referring pain down your back. At Pride In Movement, we stop the guesswork. Dr. Riley uses a hybrid lens to identify why your muscles are clenching in the first place, providing 1:1 specialist care to restore your mobility and build the strength you need so the stiffness doesn't come back.
Crick in the Neck
The Frustration: 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.
The Reality: This isn't just a random fluke; it’s often a joint in your neck that has become stiff, causing the surrounding tissues to "pinch" when you move. Through manual techniques and targeted exercises, we restore that joint's motion and strengthen the system so your neck doesn't feel the need to lock up again.
Talk to Dr. Riley to relieve this pain and get moving again.
The Frustration: 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.
The Reality: 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.
"Knot" in the Shoulder Blade
Chronic Stiffness & The "Posture" Myth
The Frustration: 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.
The Reality: 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."
The Frustration: 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.
The Reality: 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.
Numbness and Tingling
Falmouth Maine Orthopedic and Pelvic Health PT
19 Northbrook Drive, Falmouth, ME 04105
207-200-6851