Physical Therapy for Neck Pain Brooklyn | NYC

Physical Therapy for Neck Injuries

At The Game Plan Physical Therapy, our orthopedic physical therapists understand that neck and spine pain are multifactorial. Therefore, we take a holistic, multimodal approach to treating your neck pain. This approach will get you back to the active life you love, pain free.

Neck Conditions We Specialize in Treating

Dr. Paul Nasri performing manual therapy on a patient's neck at The Game Plan Physical Therapy

  • Acute neck pain is a commonly seen condition which is associated with muscle tightness and spasms around the neck. It can occur from improper upper body lifting technique and from sleeping in an unorthodox position for too long. This type of pain can be treated conservatively with physical therapy.

  • Chronic neck pain is neck pain that has lasted beyond 3-6 months. This can happen for many reasons, but it is believed that psychological and social factors, along with lifestyle habits & behaviors have the ability to influence chronic neck pain. This type of pain can be treated conservatively with physical therapy, and our therapists take a holistic approach to understanding the lifestyle choices and behaviors that may be contributing to your chronic neck pain.

  • This is when you experience pain that is shooting / radiating from the neck and down into the arm. You may also experience numbness and / or tingling sensations with this condition. This happens when the nerves around your neck are aggravated by tight muscles, joints, or disc material. Cervical radiculopathy can be treated conservatively with physical therapy, but our therapist will let you know if they think your condition warrants a referral for anti-inflammatory medicine from a physician.

Dr. Paul Nasri at The Game Plan Physical Therapy coaching a client through a serratus push up on a high low table.

  • A cervical disc bulge is when the disc material is pressing up against the outer part of the disc. A cervical herniation is when that disc material protrudes past the outer layer. Bulges and herniations are not inherently bad, as many people have them and don’t have any pain. It’s when the disc material irritates the nerve around that area that the patient may feel low back pain and pain that shoots / radiates down the leg. Prolonged sitting, turning the head to the side of pain, and looking up all typically feels the worst to this patient population. You may also feel numbness and/or tingling sensations traveling down your arm. These injuries typically occur from poor sustained postures or in weight lifting / training. These injuries can be treated conservatively with physical therapy. Depending on the acuity and intensity of your pain, our therapist may refer you to a medical provider who can prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to optimize healing and movement.

  • This condition is when part of the spine (the spinal canal) narrows and there is less space for the nerves to travel. As a result, patients with cervical stenosis experience numbness, tingling, and/or burning pain that travels down the arm. Symptoms are worse with looking up and better with looking down. This condition can typically be treated conservatively with physical therapy.

  • There are many different types of headaches, but cervicogenic headaches are the type of headaches that respond best to physical therapy treatment techniques. Symptoms include pain at the base of the skull (where the skull meets the neck), and a headache that wraps up one side of the skull to the forehead (and even behind the eye). Cervicogenic headaches are typically the result of sustained poor posture over time.

"I had been dealing with persistent neck pain on the left side for over eight years, and it was a constant on-and-off struggle... Right from the start, I had a strong feeling that he was the right person to help me. Paul began by conducting a thorough diagnostic assessment to pinpoint the source of my problem. He paid close attention to my daily routines and habits that might be contributing to my ongoing pain. Moreover, he set realistic expectations, explaining that my recovery would involve reversing ingrained habits and would require time to heal... Gradually, I saw significant progress, with neck pains being resolved through his treatments." - Yan

"I came to him with a head and neck ache that I’ve had for over 15 years. I had been told previously by doctors that this condition was entirely mental, and could not be treated. Paul assessed me, and then assured me that this type of thing in fact was treatable with physical therapy. Then, in only a matter of a few months, he entirely relieved my 15-years of chronic head/neck pain. With every decision that Paul makes, he will show you a diagram of the human body and explain scientifically what he’s doing. I personally find this extremely helpful, and this understanding motivates me to do my at home exercises properly. I have been to many physical therapists in my life, and I have never met anyone as enthusiastic or as knowledgeable as Paul." - Rachel

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Out of Pain. Back in The Game.