Assessment
A detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. You leave knowing what is wrong, why it happened, and exactly what we are going to do about it.
Concern
Neck & Shoulder Pain Treatment in London
Most neck and shoulder pain is mechanical and improves with movement, not rest. We build a graded plan so you sleep, work and reach overhead comfortably again.
Our neck and shoulder team
Overview
Understanding neck & shoulder pain
Neck and shoulder pain are among the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy, and most cases are mechanical, not serious pathology. Mechanical neck pain responds well to movement rather than rest, rotator-cuff shoulder pain is largely about tendon load tolerance, and frozen shoulder is self-limiting but slow.
Will it get better on its own?
Most does, and the right care makes it faster and less likely to return; frozen shoulder especially is worth assessing early. In line with NHS advice, exercise, manual therapy and education are first-line, and routine imaging is rarely needed. We build a graded plan around the activities you want back.
We treat desk-based professionals, gym-goers and overhead athletes across our Soho, Liverpool Street and Marylebone clinics. Self-referral; no GP letter needed.
Why it happens
What causes neck & shoulder pain?
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Sustained postural loading: long hours at a desk, screen, or steering wheel without movement breaks
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A rapid increase in overhead or gym load that outpaces rotator-cuff tendon capacity
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Deconditioning and reduced strength after time off, illness, or a previous injury
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Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), which can begin without obvious cause or follow a period of immobility
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Acute strain from an awkward movement, sleeping position, or sudden overhead effort
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Stress, poor sleep, and low mood: well-evidenced amplifiers of musculoskeletal pain
Physiotherapy for neck and shoulder pain can help to:
Find which problem you actually have
Mechanical neck pain, rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain and frozen shoulder feel similar from the inside but behave very differently. The assessment separates them, because the right plan for one is the wrong plan for another. You leave knowing which it is and what happens next.
Ease the tension behind desk-driven pain
Long hours at a screen or steering wheel load the neck and shoulder girdle hour after hour. Hands-on treatment and soft-tissue work settle the guarding, then we change the working positions and movement-break habits that were feeding it, so relief holds beyond the session.
Get you sleeping and reaching again
Shoulder pain that wakes you when you lie on that side, or bites on reaching overhead, is usually about tendon load tolerance. A graded programme pitched to your current capacity settles symptoms and restores the range you need for work, the gym and a full night of sleep.
Manage frozen shoulder honestly
Frozen shoulder is self-limiting but slow, moving through painful, stiff and recovery phases. We tell you which phase you are in, manage the pain, protect the movement you have, and restore range as the shoulder settles. Realistic expectations from the first appointment.
Rebuild rotator-cuff strength
Progressive strengthening of the neck, shoulder and rotator-cuff muscles is the best-evidenced route back from shoulder pain beyond the acute stage. We coach the load up gradually, so the tendon adapts rather than flares, and you finish stronger than before the problem started.
Stop the next episode
A previous episode raises the likelihood of another, and a rapid spike in overhead or gym load is a common trigger. We adjust how your training and desk time load the area, then leave you with a short maintenance programme that protects the gains.
At your first appointment we look for the cause: your history, how you move, and what your work, sport and life ask of your body.
The assessment covers a detailed history and a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. We explain what we find and agree a working diagnosis and plan you understand before you leave.
You go home with a written summary and a home-exercise programme built around your diagnosis and goals, so progress continues between visits.
From pain to performance. Pain relief that lasts is not enough on its own: we rebuild the strength behind the pain so it stays gone.
- Three central London clinics: Soho, Liverpool Street and Marylebone, plus home visits across London and online sessions.
- Led by physiotherapist Sam Harvey: 15 years of clinical practice and an elite-sport background across football, rugby and GAA.
- Physiotherapy, strength and nutrition under one roof: three clinicians, three disciplines, joined-up care.
Fees and booking
You can self-refer and book directly: no GP letter needed, and every new patient can start with a free 15-minute consultation call. The same fees apply across our Soho, Liverpool Street and Marylebone clinics.
- Physiotherapy: a full 60 minutes for £145, whether it is your first visit or a follow-up
- 30-minute follow-ups at £90, with video appointments from £70
- Strength training and Reformer Pilates £120, sports massage from £75
- VALD performance and strength testing with a written report, £195
- 5% off a block of five sessions, 10% off a block of ten
- An itemised receipt with every session, for claiming back where your policy covers physiotherapy
Your journey
with Physio and Performance
Everything starts with finding the cause. Whether the goal is a marathon start line or a week at your desk without pain, we treat what is driving the problem, then build the strength that keeps it fixed.
Treatment
Hands-on manual therapy combined with a progressive, tailored exercise programme. Sports massage, dry needling, shockwave or Reformer Pilates are added where they help your specific problem.
Rebuild
Coached, progressive strength work restores the load tolerance your body lost, paced to where you start. This is the stage that decides whether the fix lasts.
Perform
Each follow-up reassesses you against your baseline, with VALD testing where useful, so your return to work, sport or training rests on measured readiness. Discharge happens by mutual agreement when you can manage independently.
We specialise in:
- Physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation
- Coached strength and conditioning
- Reformer Pilates
- Sports massage and soft-tissue therapy
- Dry needling and shockwave therapy
- VALD performance and strength testing
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Running and gait analysis
- Sports nutrition and dietetics
Treatment approach
How do we treat neck & shoulder pain?
Physiotherapy & Sports Rehabilitation
£145Hands-on assessment identifies whether the problem is mechanical neck pain, rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain, or frozen shoulder, then combines manual therapy, education, and graded exercise: the first-line approach supported by current physiotherapy best practice.
See treatment detail →Strength Training
£120Progressive strengthening of the neck, shoulder, and rotator-cuff muscles rebuilds the load tolerance that protects against recurrence, and is the best-evidenced way to manage rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain beyond the acute stage.
See treatment detail →Sports Massage & Soft Tissue
From £75Soft-tissue work can ease the muscular tension and guarding that often accompany neck and shoulder pain, used as an adjunct to help you engage more comfortably with the active exercise plan.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Do I need a scan for my neck or shoulder pain?
Usually not. Most neck and shoulder pain is mechanical, and routine imaging rarely changes management: scans often reveal age-related changes that are common in pain-free people. We reserve imaging for genuine red flags, suspected significant tears, or symptoms that fail to improve as expected, and refer through the appropriate route when it is needed.
How long does frozen shoulder take to recover?
Frozen shoulder is self-limiting but slow, often lasting many months and sometimes longer, progressing through painful, stiff, and recovery phases. Physiotherapy focuses on managing pain, maintaining the movement you have, and restoring range as the shoulder settles. We set realistic expectations at your first appointment and adjust the plan to the phase you are in.
Will exercise make my shoulder pain worse?
A well-judged, graded programme should not. Current best practice for rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain is progressive loading, where exercises are pitched to your current tolerance and advanced gradually. Some manageable discomfort during rehab is normal and not harmful. Your physiotherapist guides the right amount of load for your stage so symptoms settle rather than flare.
When should neck or shoulder pain be treated as urgent?
Call 999 or go to A&E if neck pain follows a serious accident, or you develop loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the genitals, or worsening weakness or co-ordination problems in the limbs. Contact NHS 111 or your GP urgently for fever, unexplained weight loss, or feeling generally unwell.
Related Concerns
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Physio and Performance • 111 Charing Cross Road, Soho, London WC2H 0DT
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks