Neck Pain. Headaches. TMJ.
Neck Pain Treatment
in Fort Lauderdale
Neck pain can feel like a stiff neck you can't turn, a headache that starts at the base of your skull, a jaw that clicks and aches, or a burning spot along your shoulder blade that never fully lets go. We trace your pain to its source, treat it 1-on-1, and build the strength that keeps it from coming back.
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Patients Treated
1-on-1
Care, everytime
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Sports and Regenerative Rehab Clinic
Where does it hurt?
Pain often shows up away from where it starts. Pick what sounds like you to jump to that section.
How does AVION treat neck pain?
Step 1
FIND IT.
A 60–90 minute evaluation of your neck, upper back, shoulders, and jaw. We check how each segment of the neck moves, test the nerves into the arms and shoulder blades, and look at your posture and work setup.
Step 2
FIX IT.
Spinal manipulation and joint mobilization
​Ultrasound Guided Dry Needling
Focused shockwave therapy
Red light therapy (photobiomodulation)
Step 3
FORTIFY IT.
A progressive strength program for the deep neck muscles and the upper body posterior chain, plus changes to your desk setup and daily habits so the pain stays gone.
Neck conditions we treat
Chronic neck pain
Chronic neck pain can build from long hours at a desk, a car accident, a lifting injury, or trigger points in the small muscles at the base of the skull. At AVION in Fort Lauderdale, we restore how the joints in your neck move, release the muscles that are guarding, and use cervical stability exercises to build lasting control.
Cervicogenic headaches
A cervicogenic headache starts in the neck. It usually begins at the base of the skull and spreads to the temples or behind the eyes, and it's often worse with certain neck movements or long periods of sitting.
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We treat the joints and muscles that drive the headache with spinal manipulation, dry needling, Kinetic Cupping, shockwave, and red light therapy, then build neck and upper back strength.​
Migraines? True migraines need a physician to diagnose and manage. Dry needling and manual therapy can ease the muscle tension that often comes with them, alongside your physician's care.
Why we take headaches personally
Andrew Geil, our Director of Sports Rehab, lived with chronic neck pain and headaches for over 10 years. The brain fog, light sensitivity, and constant ache at the back of his skull were bad enough that he thought he needed a neurologist. His actual diagnosis was cervicogenic headaches, and dry needling the muscles of his neck was the treatment that finally worked. He has kept his neck pain-free for the last 7 years using Dry Needling.​
TMJ and Jaw Pain
TMJ dysfunction affects the jaw joint and the muscles that move it. Common signs:
A night guard protects your teeth, but it doesn't treat the muscles causing the tension. We use dry needling directly into the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoids, along with treatment of the neck.
Clicking or Popping
Pain when chewing
Clenching during the day
Neck tightness, front or back
Headaches at the temples
Grinding at night
Pain between the shoulder blades
That deep, burning spot along the inner edge of your shoulder blade is often coming from your neck. That's why massage and foam rolling help for a few hours, then it comes back. We see it most in desk workers, physicians, and lifters.
WHERE IT STARTS
Neck, at the Cervical Spine
Irritated joints or muscles in the neck
HOW IT TRAVELS
Dorsal scapular nerve
Runs to the rhomboid muscles
WHERE YOU FEEL IT
Inner edge of the shoulder blade
The spot you keep rubbing
We treat the source in the neck with spinal manipulation and dry needling, then strengthen the upper back, shoulder blades, and back of the shoulders.
Whiplash
Whiplash happens when the head snaps forward and back, most often in a car accident. It can cause neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and dizziness, sometimes days later. Once a physician has ruled out a fracture, we restore motion, calm guarding muscles, and rebuild strength.
Herniated discs and pinched nerves
A herniated disc in the neck can press on a nerve and cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness down the arm. We use manual therapy, spinal manipulation, dry needling, and movement-based exercises, then build the strength that protects the neck.
Dizziness from the neck
Some dizziness comes from the neck, not the inner ear. Dr. Nicole Lescano leads our vestibular rehab: neck treatment plus balance and eye-head coordination exercises.
What does recovery look like at AVION?
Plans follow the stages of healing, based on your condition and how long you've had it. Long standing neck pain can flare up again, so we teach you how to manage a flare early.
3 Weeks
Calm inflammation and pain
6 Weeks
Repair tissue and restore motion
9 Weeks
Rebuild strength for long term relief
When should I see a doctor instead?
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Clumsy hands, trouble with buttons or writing
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Changes in bladder or bowel control
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Numbness or tingling in both hands or legs
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Changes in balance or walking
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Neck pain after a trauma that hasn't been checked for a fracture
Call 911 for sudden, sever headache unlike any you've had, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, or a headache with vision loss, slurred speech, confusion or weakness on one side
Neck Pain FAQs
Do I need a referral to see a physical therapist for neck pain in Fort Lauderdale?
No. We're direct access, so we can see you without a prescription for up to 30 days.
Can a physical therapist treat TMJ pain?
Yes. Much of TMJ pain comes from the jaw and neck muscles, which we treat with dry needling, manual therapy, and exercise.
Should I still wear my night guard?
Yes, if your dentist recommended one. It protects your teeth while we treat the muscles causing the tension.
Is neck manipulation safe?
For most healthy adults yes. Click here to read our full blog on manipulations
How long is the first visit?
60 minutes, or 90 minutes with our signature option, including 15-20 minutes of treatment so recovery starts on day one.