Back pain and neck pain are very common, and most episodes are not caused by serious damage. Clinical guidelines recommend staying active and starting with non-drug treatments such as exercise, manual therapy and education, while watching for the rare warning signs that need a doctor. When pain lasts longer than about three months it’s called chronic pain, and exercise-based treatment remains a central part of care. Physiotherapy combines a thorough assessment with hands-on treatment and a tailored exercise plan.
At a glance
- What it is
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back or neck, sometimes spreading into an arm or leg; called chronic when it lasts more than three months
- How common
- Very common, and most episodes are not caused by serious damage
- First-line care
- Staying active, exercise, hands-on manual therapy and education, as recommended by clinical guidelines
- When to see a doctor urgently
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin, worsening weakness, or pain with fever or unexplained weight loss
- At McKelvie
- 60-minute one-on-one physiotherapy assessment ($120) in Pickering; no referral needed
What is back, neck and chronic pain?
Back and neck pain covers pain, stiffness or tension anywhere along the spine — from the lower back to the neck — and sometimes pain that spreads into the buttock and leg (sciatica) or into the shoulder and arm. When pain lasts longer than about three months, it’s called chronic pain.
Most back and neck pain is not caused by serious damage, and most episodes improve. But pain can still make work, sleep, exercise and everyday tasks hard — and that’s where physiotherapy helps.
Common causes
- Muscle and joint strain, often after lifting, a sudden movement or an unusual activity
- Disc-related problems and irritated nerves, which can cause pain or tingling down an arm or leg
- Prolonged or repeated positions, such as long hours at a desk or behind the wheel
- Previous injuries, including whiplash from a car accident — see motor vehicle accident injuries
When to get urgent medical attention
See a doctor or go to an emergency department right away if back pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, worsening weakness in a leg, or pain together with fever, a history of cancer or unexplained weight loss. These are rare, but they need medical assessment first.
How physiotherapy helps
Your first visit is a 60-minute one-on-one assessment. We look at how your pain started, how you move, what makes it better or worse, and what you want to get back to — and we check for anything that needs your doctor.
Treatment usually combines:
- Exercise — clinical guidelines recommend exercise for long-lasting low back pain (Qaseem et al., 2017) and for many types of neck pain, often alongside hands-on care (Blanpied et al., 2017). For chronic pain, reviews show exercise can reduce pain and improve function with few side effects (Geneen et al., 2017).
- Hands-on manual therapy — joint mobilisation and soft-tissue work to ease pain and restore movement.
- Education and activity advice — understanding your pain and how to stay active safely.
- Other techniques where helpful, such as taping or dry needling, depending on your physiotherapist.
Assess
A one-on-one assessment of your pain, movement and goals, with a check for anything that needs your doctor.
Treat
Hands-on manual therapy and a tailored exercise plan designed around your problem.
Build resilience
Progressive exercise and practical advice so you can stay active and manage flare-ups.
Why choose McKelvie Physiotherapy for back and neck pain?
- One-on-one care in private rooms — longer appointments, never rushed or double-booked.
- Hands-on treatment plus a tailored exercise plan — not just a sheet of exercises.
- A team of registered physiotherapists with training in manual therapy, the McKenzie Method, the Mulligan Concept and dry needling.
- Massage therapy and acupuncture under the same roof if you need them.
- Direct billing to most major insurers — and no referral needed. WSIB and motor vehicle accident claims accepted.
Sources
- Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine (Qaseem A, et al.), 2017.
- Neck Pain: Revision 2017 (Clinical Practice Guidelines). Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (Blanpied PR, et al.), 2017.
- Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Geneen LJ, et al.), 2017.