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  Neil Synnott (Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist)
  Health Professional

  I am qualified as a PHYSIOTHERAPIST and ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST. I primarily use the McKENZIE METHOD for assessment and management of musculoskeletal pain disorders. The ... View profile

  Hi,
  
  I practice as a physiotherapist. I agree with your chiropractor that neck pain can be influenced by the shoulder girdle.
  
  Your shoulder (including the scapula and humerus) essentially hangs from your neck by muscles. The only joint articulation to the skeleton is the sternoclavicular joint (either side at the base of your throat). So the muscles around your shoulder can be very important in neck pain!
  
  Key muscles that support and control the shoulder (especially the scapula) are the trapezius, levator scapula, the rhomboids, serratus anterior and to a lesser extent the rotator cuff. If these muscles are weak and smaller in bulk, they will likely tire quickly and become tight and be part of producing pain.
  
  Given time - let's say a few years - of having poor shoulder posture from weak and smaller shoulder muscles, the resting position of the scapula can be a very significant contributor to neck pain. If the posture set and pain have been around for a while, we call this a chronic problem, loosening the shoulder muscles with massage and dry needling (acupunture), re-training posture (awareness/concentration od body position) and conditioning the shoulder muscles with exercise can take a while to recover.
  
  So it is best to be proactive with managing you neck pain by monitoring your whole body and shoulder girdle posture as well as maintaining good muscular endurance and strength of your shoulder girdle muscles.
  
  Physiotherapists and accredited exercise physiologists are experts in exercise prescription. So please consult either of these professionals as needed.
  
  Regards, Neil
  
  
  
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