Neck pain is one of the most common presentations to my clinic - and is almost always accompanied by Upper Back or shoulder Pain.
The neck is closely related to the upper back both anatomically, and by the nerves and muscles in your neck that can refer to the upper back area.
The most common pattern is a neck problem half way down your neck at the cervical 4th joint (C4).
If this joint, nerve and disc area have a movement disorder it frequently refers pain into the top of your shoulder and back area.
Treatment in this instance needs to be directed to the neck primarily and not to the back area.
If you have bad posture and sit or stand with your chin poking out a little, you may also have neck and upper back pain.
This is a common pattern of pain I see in clients who sit at a desk and poke their chins to connect with their computer screens.
What happens here is that the muscles are put under pressure and the result is pain in the muscles that connect your neck with your back.
In this situation you must correct your posture and the tightened muscles must be released.
Road traffic accidents frequently cause neck pain - often known as whiplash.
This is due to the mechanics of the injury damaging the muscles, ligaments, nerves and discs that connect your neck and back.
Treatment needs to be directed towards the damaged tissue, followed by strengthening exercises and postural correction.
Children also present with neck and upper back pain as they carry heavy school bags, quite often badly-the result being excess pressure on the back and neck causing muscle imbalance and pain.
Treatment should be directed to correction of the lifting technique, reduction of the load and manual therapy where necessary.
Ultimately books should be computerised and all students provided with a lap-top - but I do not see this happening with today's economic climate! I hope I see the day!