Posture, Desk and Repetitive Strain Pain Treatment in Southampton
Posture, Desk and Repetitive Strain Pain Treatment in Southampton
You sit. You type. You focus.
But by 3pm, your shoulders are aching, your neck is tight, or your wrists are starting to sting.
You’ve tried standing desks, new chairs, maybe even a posture brace – but nothing seems to stick. And the pain keeps sneaking back.
At Southampton Physio, we help people with desk-based pain, repetitive strain issues and posture-related tension. We don’t lecture. We don’t hand out generic stretches. We work with your setup, your lifestyle and your goals – so you can feel better at work, at home and in your body.
Common Issues We Treat
Desk-related pain is often subtle to start. Then it builds.
We help people with:
- Neck and Shoulder Pain – especially by the end of the workday
- Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) – affecting the wrist, hand or forearm
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – with numbness or tingling in the hand
- Mouse Arm / Forearm Pain – burning or aching with typing or clicking
- Upper Back Stiffness or Tension – dull ache between the shoulder blades
- Tension Headaches – starting in the neck and radiating forward
Even if you’re not sure what to call it, if your body feels worse after a day at your desk – we can help.
Who We Help
If you sit at a desk (or slouch on a sofa with a laptop), this page is for you.
We regularly support:
- Office workers and managers
- Remote and hybrid workers with makeshift setups
- Writers, coders, designers and creatives
- Students, freelancers and virtual teams
- People returning to work after maternity leave, surgery or time off
- Anyone feeling tension, pain or fatigue from screen time and stillness
Whether you’re in meetings, managing spreadsheets or editing video – your work matters. And so does your body.
What’s Actually Going On?
It’s easy to blame “bad posture” – but the real problem is usually stillness, repetition and stress.
Here’s what we know:
- Perfect posture doesn’t exist
- Long hours in one position are more harmful than how you sit
- Muscles stiffen and fatigue when underused
- The nervous system can become sensitive from constant demand and stress
- RSI is more about cumulative load than sudden injury
The goal isn’t to sit like a robot. It’s to move more often and load your body the right way – so it can handle your day.
How Physiotherapy Helps
You don’t need another gadget or a lecture about slouching.
You need support that meets you where you’re at – and helps you move forward.
We work in three phases:
Reset – Calm the irritation
- Ease neck, back, wrist or shoulder tension
- Use manual therapy or guided movement if needed
- Tweak your setup (without overhauling everything)
- Give you relief and clarity
Rebuild – Build strength and resilience
- Strengthen postural and support muscles
- Train your body to handle longer workdays without fatigue
- Build endurance in your shoulders, neck, wrists and core
- Improve mobility and coordination for better daily movement
Sustain – Support your lifestyle
- Optional support for long-term desk health
- Tips for pacing, recovery and daily movement
- Guidance if returning to work after injury or time off
Pain-free posture isn’t about sitting perfectly – it’s about sitting stronger.
Ergonomic Support (Without the Gimmicks)
A good desk setup helps – but it’s only part of the puzzle.
We’ll help you:
- Review your workstation layout
- Suggest simple tweaks (keyboard height, screen angles, chairs, lighting)
- Integrate micro-breaks and pacing strategies
- Understand when a standing desk helps – and when it doesn’t
- Adapt your setup at home, not just the office
We’ll never tell you to buy a £900 chair if a footrest and a 2-minute shoulder drill will do the job.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can physiotherapy fix my posture?
We don’t believe in “perfect posture” – we believe in strong, adaptable movement. That starts with clear guidance, strength and confidence – not rigid sitting rules.
Why does my neck hurt at the end of the day?
Prolonged stillness leads to tension, especially in the shoulders and neck. We’ll help reduce that tension, then rebuild endurance and variety into your movement.
Is it RSI or carpal tunnel?
We’ll assess thoroughly and explain in plain English. Both are treatable with the right plan – and most people don’t need injections or surgery.
Should I stretch or strengthen?
Probably both – but strengthening is the key to lasting results. We’ll build the right plan based on your symptoms and lifestyle.
Will a standing desk solve the problem?
It can help, but it’s not a magic fix. Alternating positions, strength and movement matter more than standing alone.
Trusted by Desk Workers Across Southampton
We support people from:
- Southampton
- Eastleigh
- Hedge End
- Bishop’s Waltham
- Chandlers Ford and surrounding areas
Whether you’re back in the office, working from home or somewhere in between – we’ll help your workday feel better, not harder.
Booking
Ready to Work Without the Pain?
You don’t need to keep stretching, guessing or bracing your way through the day.
You need a clear plan. A bit of strength. And a team who understands desk-based pain.