Neck Pain Relief That Starts Beyond Your Neck
If you've dealt with neck pain for many months, you've most likely tried stretching it, rubbing it, and resting it. But here's a fact that might surprise you: some of the most useful exercises for a achy neck target its neighboring areas instead. Your neck works as part of a partnership that includes your jaw above and your upper back below, and two new studies published in 2026 reveal why that teamwork matters.
YOUR JAW PLAYS A ROLE
Researchers studied 62 adults who had dealt with neck pain for more than three months. (1) All participants did neck stabilization exercises for six weeks, and half also performed Rocabado exercises, a simple series of easy movements for the jaw, tongue, and head posture. Each group showed improvement. The group that also did jaw exercises, however, experienced bigger gains in how much pressure their neck could withstand before pain set in, in their awareness of their head position, and in their balance. Since the jaw and neck share muscles and nerve pathways, it stands to reason that helping one can help the other.
DON'T OVERLOOK YOUR UPPER BACK
A separate study of 54 adults introduced thoracic (mid- and upper-back) mobility exercises to standard neck exercises. (2) The added routine didn't reduce pain more than neck exercises alone, but it did bring better posture, spinal mobility, neck-related function, and use of the arms and shoulders. A rigid upper back can leave your neck carrying an extra load, so loosening it may help everything above work more smoothly.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU
These were limited, brief studies, and in each study, the extra exercises were added to neck exercises rather than replacing them. Nonetheless, they're a good reminder that the root of your discomfort and the route to feeling better aren't always in the same spot. Check out this podcast with Dr. Edgardo Vargas on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he details the treatment plan and the benefit of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for relief of chronic neck pain.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP - CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
If neck pain has been sticking around longer than you'd like, schedule an appointment with Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre soon. We'll evaluate how your neck, jaw, and upper back are working together and help you build a simple at-home routine that suits your body and your lifestyle.
