Can we help with your neck pain?
If your neck makes working, sleeping, driving or exercising uncomfortable, we can help you understand what changes the symptoms and how to move more comfortably. We combine McKenzie assessment, pain education and gradual strength work, with one-on-one guidance as you practice.
No referral needed · Dedicated one-on-one PT
Dr. Emily Warren, DPT, Cert. MDT — McKenzie certified.
In-person PT in Holladay, serving Greater Salt Lake City. Virtual coaching from anywhere.
If you are exploring your options, we’d love to hear what has been difficult and what you want back. In a free 15-minute conversation, we can answer your questions and explore whether working with us feels like a useful next step. You do not need to choose a treatment first.
Request your free 15-minute consultation
Ready to begin? Book your first 60-minute appointment with Dr. Emily for assessment, explanation and a starting plan.
Appointments, location and payment
In person: New appointments are at our Holladay clinic, 4890 Highland Dr, serving Greater Salt Lake City. We can complete examination and hands-on treatment that cannot be provided fully over video.
Virtual options: Virtual coaching from anywhere supports movement education and wellness goals. For clinical assessment or treatment over video, we will confirm what is available for your needs and location. Some examination needs require an in-person or medical assessment.
Payment: We are a cash-pay, out-of-network practice and provide a superbill for possible insurance reimbursement. Learn about out-of-network care and HSA/FSA payment, or bring your payment questions to our free consultation.
We take time to hear what you have tried and what you want back. Our clients often describe valuing clear explanations, feeling heard and having a plan they understand. Read their experiences.
What brings people to assessment?
- Neck pain or stiffness that keeps returning.
- Difficulty looking over a shoulder, working at a screen or finding a comfortable position.
- Symptoms after an injury that have been medically assessed where needed.
- Neck symptoms with arm pain, tingling, numbness or weakness.
- Questions about a cervical disc or degenerative finding on imaging.
Headaches and arm symptoms can have several causes. The assessment should determine whether PT is appropriate and whether other medical input is needed.
Your first visit: a clearer picture and a plan you can use
We begin with the things your neck is keeping you from: sleeping comfortably, checking traffic, concentrating at work or getting through a workout. Your first 60-minute appointment is one-on-one with Dr. Emily Warren, DPT, Cert. MDT, so there is time to hear your history, explore the problem and practice what comes next.
- Understand the pattern. We talk about when symptoms began, what changes them and what you have already tried. Tell us about arm pain, tingling, strength changes or headaches, too.
- Test movement and function. We look at neck movement, strength and relevant nerve findings, then check how selected movements affect your symptoms. McKenzie assessment helps us choose a useful direction rather than hand you the same routine as everyone else.
- Make the plan manageable. We practice the movements together, choose an amount that fits your response and explain what to watch for at home. You should know what you are trying to improve and how we will review it.
Bring relevant reports or your current exercise program if you have them. You do not need a referral or a new MRI just to arrange a visit.
How treatment is chosen
Build on your assessment. We use your findings, goals and preferences to choose care. McKenzie assessment guides the starting movements; we explain why we chose them and what response to look for.
Pain education helps you understand your symptoms, pace activity and respond to flare-ups. Strength and endurance work then connects treatment to looking over your shoulder, working comfortably and returning to exercise. Manual therapy or dry needling may complement the active plan during in-person care when appropriate.
The research: a 2026 review of eight studies involving 389 people with chronic nonspecific neck pain found small short-term improvements with McKenzie-based exercises. Evidence certainty was low, and medium- and long-term results were unavailable. Read the neck-pain research review.
Get to know how we approach neck pain
We want you to understand your symptoms and feel comfortable asking questions. These short videos introduce pain education and one movement example we may consider after assessing your neck.
What Dr. Emily wants you to know about persistent back or neck pain
Dr. Emily explains why pain and tissue healing do not always follow the same timeline. Your pain is real. We look at the whole picture—including movement, recovery, sleep and sensitivity—to find practical ways forward.
Key points from the video
- Pain and tissue healing do not always follow the same timeline.
- Dr. Emily encourages looking beyond a scan or painful structure to other contributors to sensitivity.
- Understanding persistent pain can open up more ways to approach recovery.
See what neck retraction looks like
Dr. Emily demonstrates a neck-retraction variation using a strap. This is one example of a movement we may explore in an assessment; we choose the direction, support and amount of movement around your response.
Key points from the video
- Dr. Emily demonstrates drawing the head back while using a strap for support.
- The strap is placed at the base of the neck and pulled gently down and forward.
- The demonstration shows repeated neck retraction with strap assistance.
If this movement increases pain, sends symptoms farther into an arm or leg, or causes dizziness, stop and ask us about a better option. After surgery or a fracture, follow your treating clinician’s movement guidance.
What progress can look like
We want treatment to change your day. An early win might be turning your head more easily, having less arm discomfort or finding a position that lets you settle at night. We build on that response with movement, strength and endurance so relief carries into work, exercise and the activities you enjoy.
- At the assessment: find a useful starting point and understand what to do between visits.
- At follow-up: review whether the change lasts, whether symptoms travel less and whether a meaningful task is getting easier.
- As you regain confidence: progress the demands of work, lifting and recreation, with a plan for handling an occasional flare-up.
Some movement responses show up during an assessment; strength and activity tolerance build with practice over time. We use your progress to decide the next step rather than promise a fixed number of visits. If the plan is not helping, we reassess it with you.
When medical evaluation comes first
Seek prompt medical advice for new or worsening weakness, changes in walking or balance, or symptoms after significant trauma. Sudden severe symptoms or other signs of a medical emergency should receive urgent care rather than waiting for a PT enquiry.
An exercise article cannot rule out a serious cause of neck pain.
Common questions about neck-pain care
Do I need an MRI before starting neck-pain PT?
Usually, you can start by discussing your symptoms and having an assessment. Bring a report if you already have one; you do not need to order a scan just to contact us. We consider your history, movement and any arm symptoms, and explain when a medical opinion or imaging may be useful.
Are chin tucks right for every sore neck?
No. Retraction is one movement we may assess, not an automatic prescription. We check its effect on your neck and any arm symptoms, choose an appropriate version and dose, and practice it together. Our neck-exercise guide explains the options.
What if I have already tried stretching, massage or PT?
Tell us what helped, how long relief lasted and what daily tasks are still difficult. We can reassess the movement response, exercise dose and activity demands rather than simply repeat an unchanged routine. Our persistent-neck-pain guide helps you prepare.
How will we know that treatment is helping?
Choose a task that matters: looking over your shoulder, sleeping comfortably, working at a screen or returning to a workout. We follow changes in that task alongside symptoms and movement. If you are not making useful progress, we review the plan together.
Related guides
Explore our patient guides · Appointment locations and formats