Massage for desk workers: neck and shoulder tension

Why does desk work cause so much tension?

Sitting still is work for your muscles. Holding your head forward of your spine, hour after hour, keeps the neck and shoulder muscles switched on constantly. They never get the movement that would let them release, so they slowly shorten and harden. That’s the stiffness you feel by Friday, and over time it can creep upwards into tension headaches.

Which massage is best for desk tension?

My head, back and shoulder massage exists precisely for this. The whole session stays on your upper body, so the areas doing all the work get all the attention. If the tension has become one or two genuinely painful knots, a deep tissue massage goes deeper into those exact spots.

How quickly will I feel a difference?

Usually by the time you’re walking back down Bank Street. Shoulders sit lower, turning your head feels easier. How long it lasts depends on what you go back to: one session undoes weeks of tension, but eight more hours a day at the screen will start rebuilding it. That’s why regulars come every few weeks.

What can I do between massages?

• Get up and move for a couple of minutes every hour, even just to make tea
• Raise your screen so the top of it is level with your eyes
• Roll your shoulders back and down whenever you catch them creeping up
• Let your arms hang and shake them out after long typing stretches
• Notice your jaw: unclench it, and the neck often follows

When is it more than just tension?

If you have numbness or tingling down an arm, sharp pain with certain movements, or headaches that are getting worse rather than better, see your GP first. Massage eases muscular tension beautifully, but it’s not a diagnosis or a cure, and I don’t pretend otherwise.