Assessment
A full hour on your history and how your body actually moves. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a clear plan you can actually follow.
Concern
Neck Pain & Headache Treatment in London
Most mechanical neck pain, and the cervicogenic and tension-type headaches that ride on the back of it: is not a sign of damage, and it responds well to movement, manual therapy, and education rather than rest or a scan. Left to a desk and a stiff neck, it tends to recur. We treat the neck and the headache together across six central London clinics.
Overview
Understanding neck pain and headaches
Neck pain is one of the most common reasons people see a physiotherapist, and most of it is non-specific and mechanical: no single structure can be blamed, and it improves with movement rather than rest.
A stiff, painful neck is also a common driver of headaches. Cervicogenic headache (pain referred from the neck) and tension-type headache both respond well to physiotherapy, manual therapy, and graded exercise, and dry needling can ease the muscular tension that often comes with them.
Getting the diagnosis right comes first, because not every headache is neck-related: migraine and other primary headaches need medical management, and we will say so and route you appropriately rather than treating a headache we cannot help. Most desk-driven neck pain settles with a combination of exercise, hands-on treatment, and changes to how you load your neck through the day, which is where an ergonomic assessment often makes the difference.
Excellent
From 4 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
I had a fantastic experience working with Katrina as my physiotherapist. From the start, she was incredibly friendly and genuinely listened to my concerns. She adapted my rehab plan specifically to suit my individual needs and time frame, as I was preparing for a move and had a clear goal to be back playing football. Katrina not only helped me reach that goal right on time, but she also used a variety of techniques, including dry needling and massage, to relieve tightness in the surrounding muscles and support my overall recovery. Her attention to detail, encouragement, and tailored approach made a real difference in my progress. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a physio!
Katrina is outstanding. After struggling with a stubborn Achilles injury, she not only got me pain-free but back to running and sport. Her expertise in acupuncture, massage, and tailored rehab planning is second to none. On top of that, she brings great energy and conversation that make each session genuinely enjoyable. If you need a physio who combines real skill with a personal touch, Katrina is the one to see.
Great experience with Katrina. She helped me with a sprained ankle with a very doable and effective treatment plan. The exercises were not overcomplicated and easy to incorporate into my day to day life which meant that I actually did them and was able to recover within 5 weeks in time to do a tough mudder. Really easy to chat to! Would recommend.
Katrina was great with me! I had a hip injury and expected it to take ages to fix but with the exercises she gave me to do and acupuncture, it all went away quite quickly. I now have exercises I can do regularly in the future and knowledge on how to prevent. Great experience!
Physiotherapy for neck pain and headaches can help to:
Ease the neck and the headache together
A stiff, painful neck often drives cervicogenic and tension-type headaches. Treating the neck with hands-on therapy and graded exercise settles both, rather than chasing the headache on its own.
Move freely without reaching for a scan
Most mechanical neck pain is not a sign of damage and improves with movement, not rest or imaging. We explain what is going on and get you moving again with confidence.
Fix the desk driving it
Long hours at a screen load the neck and shoulders. We sort the workstation and the movement-break habits behind recurrent neck pain, in clinic, on site or over video.
Know when a headache needs a different route
Not every headache comes from the neck. Where the picture points to migraine or another primary headache, we say so and direct you to the right medical care rather than treating something we cannot help.
Keep it from coming back
Desk-driven neck pain tends to recur if nothing changes. A short, specific exercise plan and sensible loading through the working day keep the neck strong and the headaches rare.
Why it happens
What causes neck pain and headaches?
-
Long hours at a desk, a screen or a steering wheel without getting up
-
A stiff, sore upper neck sending pain up into the head
-
Tight muscles across the neck and shoulders bringing on a tension headache
-
A sudden strain from an awkward movement, a poor sleeping position, or a jolt
-
Losing neck and upper back strength after time off or illness
-
Stress, poor sleep, and low mood: well-evidenced amplifiers of both neck pain and headache
What happens at your first appointment
We work out what is really holding you back, then agree the plan with you before you leave.
Your first appointment runs a full 60 minutes: a detailed history, then a thorough examination of how you move, your strength, and the affected area. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis with you.
Treatment starts the same day, and you leave with the first exercises of a plan built around your goal.
Move well, move freely. That has been the idea since 1997. We settle the symptoms first, then rebuild the strength that stops them coming back, so you finish stronger than when you started.
- One clinical team across six central London clinics, from Soho to Canary Wharf, with same-week appointments.
- Treating central London since 1997: 28 years and roughly 160,000 patients.
- Recognised by seven major UK insurers, including Bupa, AXA and Vitality, with self-pay welcome.
Physiotherapy fees and insurance in London
You can book online directly, with no GP referral needed and same-week appointments across all six clinics. If you are using private health insurance, check your policy first: some insurers ask for a GP referral before your first session.
- Initial assessment: a full 60 minutes covering your history, examination and a working diagnosis
- Follow-up treatment: 45 minutes, with your plan progressed at each visit
- Extended 60-minute treatments for complex or multi-area problems
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, Nuffield Health and WPA
Your journey
with Soho Physiotherapy
Everything is built around you. Whether the goal is a marathon or a comfortable commute, we find what is driving the problem, treat it, and build the strength that keeps the fix in place. Our aim is to get you better and give you the tools to stay better for the long term.
Treatment
Hands-on care to settle symptoms and restore movement: joint mobilisation, soft-tissue work and dry needling where they genuinely help, in line with national guidance.
Rebuild
Progressive exercise that returns the strength, control and load tolerance your body needs for work, sport and everything in between. This is the part that makes recovery last.
Perform
A short home programme, sensible loads, and the habits that keep problems rare. Then we discharge you: we don't sell sessions you don't need.
What we treat across our six London clinics
- Musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy
- Manual therapy and progressive exercise rehabilitation
- Dry needling and Western medical acupuncture
- Sports massage and soft-tissue therapy
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon problems
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Women's and pelvic health physiotherapy
- Workplace and desk setup assessments
- Running and gait analysis
Treatment approach
How do we treat neck pain and headaches?
Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryAssessment first separates mechanical neck pain and neck-related headache from primary headache, then combines manual therapy, education, and graded exercise: the first-line approach for non-specific neck pain. Most cases improve over 4–8 weeks.
See treatment detail →Workplace Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryFor desk-driven neck pain and headaches, monitor height, chair setup, and movement breaks are usually contributors. A workplace assessment alongside rehab addresses the daily load that keeps the problem coming back.
See treatment detail →Dry Needling & Acupuncture
Price on enquiryTrigger-point needling can ease tension in the upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles that often accompanies neck pain and tension-type headache: one part of the plan, used to open a window for active rehab.
See treatment detail →Sports Massage
Price on enquirySoft-tissue work can settle the muscular guarding through the neck and shoulders, helping you get on more comfortably with your exercises. It runs alongside your rehab, not instead of it.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Common questions about
neck pain and headaches in London
Can physiotherapy help my headaches?
It can help headaches that arise from the neck (cervicogenic) and tension-type headaches, where manual therapy and graded exercise are supported as treatment. Physiotherapy is not a treatment for migraine or other primary headaches, though easing neck tension can sometimes reduce their triggers. We assess which type you have first and refer you on if it needs medical management.
Do I need a scan for my neck pain?
Usually not. Most neck pain is mechanical, and routine imaging rarely changes treatment: scans often show age-related changes that are common in pain-free people too. We reserve imaging for genuine red flags, neck pain after significant trauma, or symptoms with neurological signs, and refer through the right route when a scan is actually warranted.
Why does my neck hurt from desk work?
Sustained postures load the neck and upper back, and long static screen time without breaks lets the supporting muscles fatigue and tighten, which provokes both stiffness and headache. The fix is rarely perfect posture; it is movement, a better-set workstation, and building strength and tolerance in the neck so it copes with the working day.
When should a headache or neck pain be treated as urgent?
Call 999 or go to A&E for a sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache, a headache with fever, neck stiffness, rash, or confusion, neck pain after a serious accident, or new weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Contact NHS 111 or your GP urgently for a new or changed headache pattern. Physiotherapy is not the first step for these.
Related Concerns
Get Started
Ready to begin?
Book today.
Soho Physiotherapy • 111 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks