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A stiff neck can have many causes. Find out which signs need medical attention first and how gua sha is approached if it turns out to be suitable.

Waking up unable to turn your head comfortably can colour the whole day. Checking a blind spot, glancing at a colleague or settling at the desk suddenly takes effort. Tension from stress, a long screen day or an awkward sleeping position may all play a part, but a stiff neck is not always so simple.

Signs that call for a different conversation

If the stiffness followed a fall or knock, or comes with an unusual headache, numbness, weakness or other new neurological symptoms, a medical assessment comes first. Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, will ask about these signs before considering any hands-on approach, and may suggest you see your GP.

If gua sha seems suitable

Gua sha involves smooth strokes over the skin with a rounded tool. Before starting, you and Christine can agree on a pressure you are comfortable with, and you can describe which movements bother you most, such as looking over your shoulder or tilting your head down to read. Please try not to rate the session by how much redness appears. A more practical check is whether everyday movements feel easier over the following days and whether your skin has fully settled before another session is discussed.

Paying attention between visits

At your next appointment, mention any tenderness that stayed around and any irritation or bruising that seemed out of the ordinary. Christine chooses a tool and technique to suit your circumstances, not to match a picture of what the skin should look like. Based on what you report, she can talk through carrying on, changing the approach or trying something else.

Looking at the wider pattern

Neck tension often travels with workload, worry and posture. If mornings like this keep happening, the Lane Cove clinic is a place to talk about pillows, screen set-up and the pressures you are carrying, as well as hands-on care.