Massage therapy is a proven way to improve many types of neck and shoulder pain, and is often one of the first treatments people think of when they experience severe neck pain.

They’re smart to seek out massage because massage actually can get rid of neck pain. In fact, nearly 1 in every 5 sessions of massage in the US are booked in order to resolve neck-pain symptoms.

Here are four ways that massage can help your particular variety of neck pain.

1. Frozen neck and massage treatment

While a stiff neck can be a nuisance, it usually isn’t a cause for panic. If the stiffness gets more extreme, however, it can lead to a sensation of the neck being “frozen” in place, limiting movement and significantly affecting your quality of life.

Fortunately, massage is one of the best alternative medicine approaches for treating neck stiffness. Massage is proven to improve both neck mobility and reduce neck pain.

2. Massage for pinched nerves in the neck

Pinched nerves are typically caused by pressure placed on the nerve by joints, muscles, or other structures. Muscle tension and inflammation may be the cause of this pressure. Nerve impingement in either the brachial plexus – located in the shoulder – or disc herniation in the cervical spine can both lead to nerve pain in both the neck and shoulder.

Massage therapy can be a great choice for relieving that inflammation, and thus reducing nerve pain and pressure

3. Massage for pinched nerve in the shoulder

Studies have shown that massage has a positive effect in reducing chronic shoulder pain. Problems from nerves in the shoulder girdle – typically coming from the large nerve bundle called the brachial plexus – can often translate as pain in the neck, leading you to believe that the neck is the origin of the pain. Your massage therapist will be able to help you track down the source of the pain so that you can find relief, whether it’s coming from the neck or the shoulder.

4. Swedish massage for neck pain

Swedish massage works to lengthen and relax muscles and tissues, making it a great choice for those suffering from neck and shoulder pain. One trial showed notable symptom improvement for neck pain patients receiving regular Swedish massage. While, patients receiving Swedish massages were able to reduce their pain medication more than participants who did not receive massage.