Case Study: Desk‑Related Neck Pain and Headaches in a Remote Worker
Case Study: Desk‑Related Neck Pain & Headaches
Clinician: Katherine Reardon, DPT
Patient: 35‑year‑old remote worker in Burlington
Primary concerns: Daily neck tension, frequent headaches, difficulty working full days comfortably
Before Care at Living Well
Working long days at a computer from home, this patient developed persistent neck tightness and headaches that regularly worsened as the day went on. They often relied on over‑the‑counter medication and found that by evening, neck stiffness and head pain interfered with both productivity and sleep. Exercise and ergonomic interventions have been shown to help reduce neck pain and disability in office workers, especially when targeted strengthening and endurance exercises are combined with posture education and workspace changes.
Evaluation and Plan
At Living Well Center for Integrative Health, Katherine began with a detailed assessment of neck range of motion, posture in typical work positions, muscle strength and endurance of the neck and shoulder girdle, and headache patterns. She also reviewed the patient’s current workstation setup, daily schedule, and movement breaks. Evidence suggests that ergonomics paired with therapeutic exercise can significantly reduce cervical pain and improve posture and function in people with work‑related neck complaints.
Together, they set goals to:
Decrease the frequency and intensity of headaches
Reduce neck tension during and after the workday
Improve sleep quality and overall comfort at the desk
Therapeutic Exercise and Postural Retraining
Katherine designed an individualized exercise program that focused on:
Strengthening the deep neck flexors, scapular stabilizers, and upper back muscles
Improving endurance of postural muscles to better tolerate prolonged sitting
Gentle mobility and stretching for the cervical spine and upper shoulders
Postural retraining included:
Teaching neutral head and neck alignment relative to the thoracic spine
Coaching on micro‑breaks and simple movement snacks during the workday
Adjusting chair height, monitor level, and keyboard placement within a basic ergonomic framework
Research in office workers indicates that neck and shoulder strengthening, along with endurance training, can reduce neck pain and improve function, with greater benefits when patients consistently perform their exercises. Therapeutic exercise combined with ergonomic training has also been shown to reduce pain and disability and enhance cervical posture.
Cupping for Neck Tension
To address persistent muscle tension and pain, Dr. Reardon incorporated cupping as an adjunct to exercise and education. Systematic reviews report that cupping therapy can reduce neck pain intensity and improve function compared with no treatment or active controls, though much of the evidence is low to moderate quality and more high‑quality trials are needed.
In this case, cupping was used to help modulate pain and muscle tightness so the patient could participate more comfortably in active rehab and maintain their home exercise program.
Outcomes That Mattered to the Patient
Over the course of care, the patient reported:
Fewer and less intense headaches across the workweek
Reduced end‑of‑day neck tightness and less reliance on pain medication
Easier time falling asleep and fewer nights disrupted by neck discomfort
Outcomes That Mattered to the Patient
Over the course of care, the patient reported:
Fewer and less intense headaches across the workweek
Reduced end‑of‑day neck tightness and less reliance on pain medication
Easier time falling asleep and fewer nights disrupted by neck discomfort
These changes are consistent with evidence that combining manual or adjunctive therapies with targeted exercise can reduce headache intensity and frequency in people with neck‑related headaches and cervicogenic symptoms. The patient also noticed they could complete full remote workdays with greater comfort and felt more confident adjusting their workstation and daily routine to prevent flare‑ups.
This case highlights how an integrative approach at Living Well Center for Integrative Health—blending therapeutic exercise, cupping, and postural retraining—can support remote workers dealing with desk‑related neck pain and headaches, improving both work performance and quality of rest.
Privacy Notice: All case studies are fully anonymized and represent common conditions treated at Living Well. Identifying details have been generalized to protect patient privacy while highlighting real-life improvements for patients in the greater Chittenden County area.