The good news is that in most cases instances of neck pain are minor and usually a result of something commonplace: keeping or positioning the head at an awkward angle, "a locked joint" or poor posture while working, reading or watching television. Alternatively, neck pain may be a result of an underlying pathology such as spondylitis, a protruding disc, age-related degenerative disease etc, necessitating diagnosis and treatment by a qualified clinician.

Our heads, which weigh between four and seven kg are balanced on top of our necks with the help of a sophisticated, linked joint system, ligaments and muscles. Accordingly, if these structures are not kept movable, flexible and or strong, especially in the long-term, we are more than likely to suffer from neck problems.

Furthermore, sustained repetitive neck strains and or minor injuries, age-related changes, spine abnormalities, whiplash injuries (including minor repetitive ones) will lead to decreased motion and injury to the supporting structures causing neck pain, irritation (or pinching) of nerves supplying the upper back, chest and arms – leading to something commonly known as "referred pain," which results in a feeling of pain, tingling and/or numbness radiating down into the upper back, arm, forearm, hand and fingers.