Neck Pain
Stiffness, restricted turning and headaches that build through the day: usually caused by holding one position, not by injury.
Common symptoms
- , Stiffness and restricted turning
- , Ache across the top of the shoulders
- , Headaches from the base of the skull
- , Worse late in the working day
- , Pins and needles into an arm
Common causes
- , Long hours driving with vibration
- , Screen work at the wrong height
- , Carrying loads on one shoulder or the head
- , Sleeping position
- , Joint irritation in the neck
Drivers
Nakuru sits on major transport corridors, and a large share of our neck caseload holds a steering wheel for a living. Matatu crews, lorry drivers, boda boda riders.
The combination is specific: a fixed seated position, road vibration, constant small head movements checking mirrors, and often a seat that cannot be adjusted properly. It produces stiff necks and locked mid-backs with real consistency.
What helps is unglamorous: headrest height, getting out of the vehicle at every opportunity, and building the deep neck muscles that fatigue first and hand the work over to the bigger muscles that then tighten.
Carrying
Carrying loads on one shoulder, or on the head, over years produces predictable one-sided neck problems. Alternating sides helps. Building capacity for the load helps more, and is available to anyone willing to do a few minutes daily.
Treatment
Manual therapy eases the joint restriction and muscle tension, which usually brings quick relief. Keeping it away needs the change in what caused it: which is the part people skip, and the reason it returns.
How we treat it
- , Joint mobilisation to restore rotation
- , Soft-tissue work around the shoulder girdle
- , Deep neck flexor strengthening
- , Seat and workstation adjustment
- , Acupuncture where pain persists
Typical recovery: Typically 2–4 weeks for uncomplicated neck pain
See a doctor urgently if you have
- !Neck pain after a collision or fall
- !Progressive weakness or numbness in an arm
- !Severe headache unlike any before
- !Dizziness or visual disturbance with neck pain
- !Fever with neck stiffness
These are not physiotherapy problems. Go to a doctor or hospital rather than booking with us.
Treatments that help
Common questions
I drive for a living. Why is my neck always stiff?
Driving combines a fixed position, vibration and constant small corrections: a genuinely different loading pattern from office sitting, and harder on the neck. Seat position, headrest height and getting out of the vehicle regularly all matter more than people expect.
Can neck problems cause headaches?
Yes. Cervicogenic headaches typically start at the base of the skull and spread forward, often one-sided, often building through the day. They respond well to treating the neck.
My arm tingles. Should I worry?
It usually means a nerve in the neck is irritated, which is common and generally settles. Persistent or worsening weakness needs assessing promptly, mention it at the first appointment.
Book a physiotherapist in Nakuru
Clinic appointments in Milimani, or a physiotherapist at your door across Nakuru. Same-week slots.