Why Your Neck & Shoulders Hurt — And What You Can Do About It
Neck and shoulder tension has quietly become one of the most common sources of chronic discomfort — especially in urban centres like downtown Edmonton. If you’ve ever ended a long day with stiffness in your upper body, tension headaches, or sharp pain between your shoulder blades, you’re not alone.
At Strive Holistic Massage, our Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) see these patterns every day — and we’re here to help you understand why they happen, how they become chronic, and what you can do to find lasting relief.
What Causes Neck & Shoulder Pain?
While there are many potential triggers, most neck and shoulder pain today is linked to a combination of modern lifestyle factors:
1. Poor Posture
Long hours at a desk or on your phone often mean your head is tilted forward and your shoulders rounded — putting constant strain on the muscles that hold your head upright. Just a few degrees of forward head posture can double or triple the workload on your neck and upper back muscles.
2. Repetitive Movements
Typing, texting, driving, lifting — many people perform the same upper-body movements hundreds of times a day. Without proper movement breaks or counter-stretches, these patterns lead to overuse injuries, trigger points, and fascial restriction.
3. Stress & Emotional Tension
Stress isn’t just “in your head.” When you’re overwhelmed, your body reacts by tightening up — often without you even realizing it. Many clients carry their stress through the shoulders, jaw, and upper back, creating chronic holding patterns that become hard to release on your own.
4. Old Injuries or Trauma
A past car accident, sports injury, or fall can set off compensation patterns in your body. Even after the acute pain fades, the underlying restrictions and scar tissue may continue to limit range of motion and contribute to chronic stiffness or inflammation.
Symptoms to Watch For
Neck and shoulder tension doesn’t always show up the same way. Here are some of the most common symptoms we treat in our Edmonton massage clinic:
Tension headaches or migraines originating at the base of the skull
Burning, numbness, or tingling down the arm or into the hands (often nerve-related)
Limited range of motion in the neck or shoulders — feeling "stuck" when you turn your head
Chronic upper back pain or mid-scapular knots that won’t release
Pain between the shoulder blades from slouching or long days sitting
How Massage Therapy Helps
Massage therapy isn’t just about relaxing muscles — it’s about restoring balance, improving circulation, and resetting your nervous system so your body can heal.
At Strive Holistic Massage, our RMTs take a personalized, evidence-informed approach. No two necks are the same — so we tailor your treatment based on your history, symptoms, movement patterns, and stress levels.
Techniques We May Use:
Trigger Point Therapy
Targets hyper-irritable spots in muscle tissue that refer pain to other areas (e.g., tension headaches or arm pain).Myofascial Release
Works to loosen tight fascia — the connective tissue that surrounds and supports your muscles.Deep Tissue Massage
Helps reduce chronic tension by accessing deeper layers of muscle with controlled pressure.Cupping or Graston Therapy
May be used when appropriate to improve circulation, reduce adhesions, and support healing.Relaxation Massage + Breathwork
We may incorporate nervous system regulation techniques to help release emotional tension held in the body.
A Local Approach: Neck & Shoulder Relief in Downtown Edmonton
Many of our clients work or live downtown — and their pain is often tied to lifestyle patterns unique to city life:
Long commutes on foot or by bike
Desk-heavy jobs with minimal movement breaks
Constant screen exposure in both work and social settings
We’re conveniently located inside Evolve Strength Downtown, offering a calming space where you can pause, breathe, and reset. Whether you’re in a high-pressure job or just navigating daily life, we’re here to help.
5 Things You Can Do Today to Reduce Neck & Shoulder Tension
Adjust your workspace: Raise your monitor to eye level, keep your keyboard close, and support your lower back.
Move every 30–60 minutes: Gentle stretches, shoulder rolls, and walking can break the pattern of static posture.
Practice body scans: Check in with yourself. Are your shoulders creeping up toward your ears? Are you clenching your jaw?
Hydrate well: Dehydrated tissues are more likely to become stiff and irritated.
Book a massage tailored to your tension patterns: Early intervention prevents chronic pain from taking hold.
Simple Moves You Can Try Today
Sit upright and draw your chin gently back (like making a double‑chin) 5 times, hold 3 seconds each
Shoulder blades down and back: squeeze them together for 3 seconds, release, repeat 8–10 times
Neck side stretch: drop your ear toward your shoulder and hold for 20 seconds each side — don’t pull, just lean
Personalized Massage for Neck & Shoulder Pain
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all care. At Strive, your massage session is designed around you — your body, your goals, your life.
Whether your tension is new or something you've lived with for years, we’ll help you move, breathe, and feel better.
Book your massage online today →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is neck and shoulder pain so common?
It’s often caused by poor posture, screen time, emotional stress, and repetitive movement — especially for office workers.
How do I know if I need massage or chiropractic care?
Massage targets soft tissue tension, while chiropractic focuses on joint alignment. Many people benefit from both in a complementary plan.
How many sessions will I need to see results?
Some clients feel relief after one session; others benefit from ongoing care depending on chronicity and lifestyle.
Will the massage hurt?
Some techniques involve deep pressure, but we always work within your comfort zone and communicate throughout the session.
Do you offer direct billing for massage in Edmonton?
Yes! Strive Holistic offers direct billing to most insurance providers — check our website for a full list.
