SupremeNeck pain that keeps coming back?
You've rolled your shoulders, cracked your neck and bought a new pillow. It eases, then it's back by Friday. That's because your neck is usually where the problem lands. Not where it starts.
Nick Monczakowski 4.9 from 74 Google reviews · 13+ years
It's rarely a neck problem.
Your chest is pulling you forward.
Hours at a screen shorten your chest muscles and pec minor. Your head drifts forward and the back of your neck works overtime just to hold it up.
The muscles holding your head up are exhausted.
Your upper traps and levator scapulae sit under load all day. Eventually they tighten, spasm and start sending pain up into your head.
Stretching the sore side doesn't remove the pull.
That's why it feels better for an hour. Until the front is released, the back keeps getting dragged straight back into the same position.
Neck myths. Busted.
“I just need a better pillow.”
Tap to flip →A good pillow stops it getting worse overnight. It can't release muscles that have been tight for months. Most stiff necks start at the desk, not in bed.
“Cracking it sorts it out.”
Tap to flip →The pop feels like relief for a moment. Nothing has changed underneath, which is why you're cracking it again an hour later.
“It must be my spine.”
Tap to flip →Usually not. Most neck pain is muscular: tight traps, levator scapulae and the small muscles at the base of the skull. Numbness, tingling or weakness? See your GP first.
Four areas. Not just the sore one.
Upper traps & levator scapulae
The two muscles behind most neck pain. Both overwork to hold a forward head. Releasing them is step one.
Suboccipitals
Four small muscles where your neck meets your head. Tight in almost every desk worker and a common source of headaches that start at the back of the head.
Pec minor & scalenes
These pull your head and shoulders forward. Skip them and the relief doesn't last, because the forward pull is still there.
Upper back mobility
A stiff upper back forces your neck to do all the moving. Free it up and your neck stops taking the load.
Which one is yours?
The desk neck
Forward head, tight chest, overloaded upper traps. Years of screen time adding up. The most common one by far. Massage for desk workers →
The one that won't turn
Months or years of restricted rotation. Usually scalenes, upper traps and levator scapulae that have been shortened for so long it feels normal.
Slept on it funny
Sudden pain and stiffness after an awkward night or a long day at the desk. Gentle work helps even now. Nick adapts the pressure to how it feels.
Neck plus headaches
The headache is often pain referred from tight neck muscles. Treat the neck and the headaches usually ease too. Tension headaches →
Neck into the shoulder
Your upper trap covers both. Treat one without the other and it rarely lasts, so both get worked in the same session. Shoulder pain →
The driver's neck
Chin forward, shoulders rounded, hours behind the wheel. Delivery drivers, commuters, anyone driving two hours plus a day. Driver stiffness →
One hour. A proper plan.
- 01
Talk
Your symptoms, your work setup and what you've already tried.
- 02
Assess
Hands-on check of your neck, shoulders, chest and upper back to find where the tension really sits.
- 03
Treat
Targeted release of the muscles driving your pattern. Front and back, not just the sore spot.
- 04
Plan
Simple stretches to hold the result and an honest view on how many sessions you need.
People who sorted it.
“I went in with a really tight neck and some lingering wrist pain and he quickly pinpointed the problem areas… After the session, my neck felt noticeably looser and the wrist pain had eased a lot.”
Tomasz · Neck & wrist“He helped resolve a long-standing issue with my neck and shoulder… Rather than attempting a quick fix, he focuses on achieving long-term, lasting results.”
B. · Neck & shoulder“Nick has been super helpful in removing built up tension and knots in my back, which had been accumulating to the point of severe neck and shoulder pain.”
Nicola · Neck, shoulders & backBefore you book for neck pain.
Can sports massage help with neck pain?
Yes. Most neck pain comes from tight upper traps, levator scapulae and suboccipitals working against a forward head position. That responds well to targeted soft tissue work. Most people feel a clear difference within 2 to 3 sessions. If you have sharp pain running into your arm, Nick will check whether massage is the right first step before treating.
Why does my neck keep getting stiff?
Recurring stiffness is almost always a posture and muscle imbalance pattern, not damage. Desk work shortens the muscles at the front of the neck and chest, which pulls your head forward. The muscles at the back then hold that weight all day until they tighten and spasm. Stretch them and they ease for a while. Leave the front tight and the pattern is back within weeks.
How many sessions will I need for neck pain?
A recent flare-up usually settles with 2 to 3 sessions close together. Stiffness that has been coming back for months usually needs 4 to 6 to change the pattern properly. You'll get an honest recommendation after your first session.
Is neck massage safe?
For most neck pain, yes. Nick works on the muscles around the neck (upper traps, suboccipitals, levator scapulae and the deep neck muscles) rather than on the spine itself. If you've been diagnosed with a disc problem in your neck, or you have shooting pain, numbness or tingling into your arm, WhatsApp Nick to describe it before booking.
When to see your GP first
Call NHS 111 or see your GP before booking if you have neck pain with any of these:
- Numbness, pins and needles or weakness in your arm or hand
- Neck pain after a fall, accident or a knock to the head
- Pain alongside a fever, unexplained weight loss or feeling generally unwell
- Sudden, severe pain or symptoms that are getting worse quickly
Not sure? WhatsApp Nick a quick description first. If massage isn't the right first step, he'll tell you before you book.
Your neck has waited long enough.
- £80 first session, assessment included
- Mon–Fri 11am–7pm
- Near New Malden station · free street parking
- Personal reply from Nick, usually same day
“Don't suffer in silence or settle for halfway treatment, it is worth at least asking Nick for an opinion.”