DESK WORKERSVoltex Physical Therapy · North Austin
Neck pain by 3 p.m., headaches after a day of calls, or a low back that hates your chair? A Doctor of Physical Therapy at our North Austin clinic fixes the cause, and shows you how to keep it from coming back.
Most clients feel a difference within the first few visits.
The short answer
Neck, back and shoulder pain from desk work is common, and it rarely comes from one bad day. Long hours of sitting, screens and stress add up until a stiff neck becomes a daily headache.
At our North Austin clinic, a Doctor of Physical Therapy looks at how you sit, move and work, treats the pain hands-on, then builds the strength and habits that get you through a 10-hour day, whether you’re at a startup downtown or a campus in the Domain.
Understand your pain
The 6 most common complaints we see in desk workers and tech professionals at our North Austin clinic, and the signs of each one.
Feels like: a stiff, aching neck that worsens through the workday and makes it hard to check your blind spot.
Often caused by: hours with the head forward of the shoulders, a monitor set too low, and a stiff upper back.
Feels like: a band of pressure from the base of the skull to behind the eyes, usually later in the day.
Often caused by: tight muscles and stiff joints in the upper neck that refer pain into the head.
Feels like: a burning knot between the shoulder blades that no amount of stretching touches.
Often caused by: a rounded upper back and shoulders that sit forward over a keyboard all day.
Feels like: a dull ache across the low back that builds the longer you sit and eases when you walk.
Often caused by: long, unbroken sitting with tight hips and a core that has switched off.
Feels like: a tired, clicking or aching jaw, especially after stressful days or first thing in the morning.
Often caused by: clenching under stress, often alongside neck tension and poor sleep.
Feels like: aching or tingling in the wrist and forearm with typing and mouse use.
Often caused by: hours of small, repeated movements with the wrist bent and the forearm tense.
Sound familiar?
Neck pain? See neck pain treatment in Austin. Headaches? See headache treatment. Jaw pain? See TMJ physical therapy.
What the research says
In a one-year study of office workers, about half (49%) developed a new episode of neck pain. It is one of the most common complaints in desk-based jobs.
A review of workplace trials found that neck and shoulder strengthening programs reduced neck pain in office workers, with workstation changes adding to the effect.
A 2023 review linked neck pain to being sedentary (50% higher odds), computer use (30%) and phone use (more than double), while total sitting time on its own was not significant. How you sit and move matters more than how long.
Your plan at Voltex
Every visit is one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy for the full session at our North Austin clinic.
A 75-minute evaluation of your neck, back and shoulders, plus how you sit and work.
Manual therapy, dry needling and simple changes to your workstation so you feel better this week.
Neck, upper back and core strength you can do in 10 minutes between meetings.
A plan for the long days, with checkpoints along the way, so the pain doesn’t return.
