Massage Therapy for Neck Pain Relief in North Vancouver
Struggling with Neck Pain? Massage Therapy May Be the Solution
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints, affecting people of all ages and lifestyles. Whether it's due to poor posture, stress, or injury, persistent neck discomfort can interfere with your daily life. At Mountain Health and Performance in North Vancouver, our registered massage therapists (RMTs) specialize in helping patients find long-lasting relief through evidence-informed manual therapy techniques.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Understanding what’s causing your neck pain is the first step to finding effective relief. Some of the most common contributors include:
Poor posture: Long hours spent hunched over a computer or phone can strain the muscles at the base of the neck and upper back.
Muscle tension and stress: Emotional or mental stress can cause people to unconsciously clench their neck and shoulders, leading to chronic tightness.
Injuries: Whiplash from car accidents, sports injuries, or slips and falls can result in soft tissue damage and inflammation.
Sleeping position: Unsupportive pillows or awkward sleeping postures can strain the cervical spine.
Repetitive strain: Daily activities that involve repeated head or arm movement can lead to muscular imbalances over time.
How Massage Therapy Helps with Neck Pain
Massage therapy is a safe, non-invasive approach that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of neck discomfort. Here's how it can help:
1. Reduces Muscle Tension
Massage works to release chronic muscle tightness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back—areas often affected by stress and poor ergonomics.
2. Improves Circulation
Increased blood flow helps flush out metabolic waste, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in injured or strained tissues.
3. Enhances Range of Motion
By targeting shortened or overactive muscles, massage can help restore natural neck movement and flexibility.
4. Decreases Pain Sensitivity
Massage has been shown to increase serotonin and dopamine levels, which can help decrease pain perception and improve mood.
5. Reduces Headache Frequency
Tension-type headaches and some migraines can stem from tight neck and upper back muscles. Regular massage may help reduce their frequency and severity.
What to Expect from Massage Therapy at Mountain Health and Performance
Our RMTs tailor each treatment to your individual needs. Depending on your assessment, treatment may include:
Swedish massage for relaxation and circulation
Deep tissue techniques to release trigger points
Myofascial release for chronic tightness
Stretching to restore mobility
Home care recommendations to support long-term recovery
Our RMTs often collaborate with our in-house chiropractors to ensure you receive comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of your condition.
Book Your Appointment Today
If you're experiencing neck pain—whether it's from daily stress, an injury, or chronic tension—massage therapy can be a powerful part of your recovery. Our experienced team at Mountain Health and Performance in North Vancouver is here to help you move better and feel better.
Call today or book online to schedule your massage therapy appointment.
The Benefits of Custom Pillow Fitting in North Vancouver
“What is the best pillow?” is a question we have heard hundreds, if not thousands of times at Mountain Health and Performance.
We usually hear this question within the context of managing one’s neck pain, headaches or shoulder pain since an ill-fitting pillow can exacerbate or contribute to these conditions. Afterall, the pillow directly impacts how your neck and spine align while you sleep, creating opportunities for misalignment and pressure points to cause tension, stiffness and frequent wakeups (bad Airbnb experience, anyone?).
Trying to navigate this on your own can also be an overwhelming experience as there can be hundreds of options to choose from at big box stores. And simply laying on a pillow for 5 minutes in-store is unlikely to give you a good sense of how your body will feel after laying on it following several hours of sleep.
Pillowise Custom Fit Pillows
At Mountain Health and Performance, we’ve been having tremendous success with the Pillowise custom-fit pillows. These pillows provide personalized neck and spinal support for a more restful and comfortable sleep. Some of the key benefits include:
Personalized Support: Pillowise pillows are tailored to the individual’s body measurements, such as neck length, neck circumference, and shoulder width with consideration of the firmness of the sleeping surface and preferred sleeping position. This customization ensures the pillow offers the right level of support for proper spine alignment.
Improved Sleep Quality: By promoting better alignment of the neck and spine, Pillowise pillows can help reduce discomfort, leading to better sleep quality and fewer disturbances during the night.
Pain Relief: For individuals with neck pain, shoulder pain or headaches, the pillow's ergonomic design can help alleviate pressure points and reduce pain.
Durability: While other memory foam pillows are made with layers or chunks of memory foam (which creates natural weak points in the pillow), each Pillowise pillow is made with a single piece of high-quality European memory foam, which tends to offer longer-lasting comfort compared to standard pillows. Pillowise is unique in that they offer a 5-year warranty on their pillows - well above the industry standard.
Temperature Control: Pillowise pillows are designed with grooves strategically cut throughout the open-cell memory foam to allow for better breathability, helping you to regulate your temperature and keep you cool throughout the night.
In summary, buying pillows at a big box store is like buying a suit off the rack. It MIGHT be ok but it’s a roll of the dice. Getting sized for a Pillowise pillow is a bespoke experience, similar getting fitted for a custom suit that is specific to your dimensions and needs.
The sizing process is straightforward and relatively quick. If you are interested in getting a Pillowise custom-fit pillow, Dr. Matt Wentzell is able to size you during your next appointment at Mountain Health and Performance. Book here if interested!
Dr. Matt Wentzell
BKin, MSc, DC, FRCCSS(C)
North Vancouver Sport Chiropractor