Holistic Therapies for Neck Pain
Neck pain affects millions of people every year, whether from poor posture, stress, injury, or simply spending too much time looking down at phones and computers. At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic in Saint Paul, we understand that true healing comes from treating the whole person, not just the painful area. Our holistic approach addresses the body, mind, and lifestyle factors that contribute to neck pain so that relief is long-lasting.
Why Holistic Care Matters
Neck pain is rarely the result of a single problem. More often, it develops from a combination of factors that build up over time. Tight muscles from stress, restricted joints from poor posture, irritated nerves from old injuries, and even issues like poor circulation, poor sleep, or nutrient deficiencies can all contribute.
Traditional approaches often focus only on the surface taking a pill to mask pain or treating just one structure in the neck. While that may bring temporary relief, it rarely addresses the full picture. Holistic care takes a different approach. By looking at the body as an interconnected system, we can uncover and treat the underlying causes of pain.
Assessment of Neck Pain
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Musculoskeletal health: Proper alignment and balanced muscles reduce tension and restore mobility.
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Nervous system balance: Calming overactive nerves and supporting healthy communication between the brain and body decreases pain sensitivity.
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Circulation and tissue repair: Improving blood and lymphatic flow helps tissues heal and reduces inflammation.
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Stress and emotional health: Stress often shows up in the body as muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. Relaxation therapies and lifestyle support help break that cycle.
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Nutrition and lifestyle: Adequate rest, hydration, and the right nutrients give the body what it needs to recover fully.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Neck pain often develops gradually, but it can also appear suddenly after an accident or strain. Understanding the root cause is the first step toward lasting relief. Some of the most common contributors we see include:
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Poor Posture: Long hours at a desk, computer, or looking down at a phone (“tech neck”) can strain muscles and shift spinal alignment.
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Stress and Muscle Tension: Emotional stress often settles in the neck and shoulders, leading to tight, painful muscles.
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Injuries and Whiplash: Car accidents, falls, or sports injuries can damage soft tissues and joints, sometimes leading to long-term pain if left untreated.
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Degenerative Changes: Conditions like arthritis or disc degeneration may cause stiffness, nerve compression, and chronic discomfort.
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Repetitive Strain: Constant movements or work-related habits, such as heavy lifting or awkward positions, can overwork the neck.
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Nerve Irritation: Pinched nerves from misalignment, herniated discs, or inflammation can lead to pain that radiates into the shoulders, arms, or even hands.
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Lifestyle Factors: Poor sleep, lack of exercise, or nutrient deficiencies can weaken the body’s ability to heal and maintain balance.
Because every patient is different, the causes of neck pain often overlap. That is why a holistic approach one that looks at posture, lifestyle, emotional health, and physical structures creates better, longer lasting results than treating just the pain itself.
What Your Treatment May Look Like
From the moment you walk into O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, our focus is on you. We know that dealing with neck pain can feel exhausting and discouraging, so we’ve created a calm, welcoming space where you can finally exhale and know you’re in good hands.
Your care begins with a thoughtful conversation. We listen closely to your story how the pain began, what makes it worse, and how it’s affecting your daily life. We take the time to understand the whole picture, not just your symptoms, so you feel heard and supported right from the start.
Together, we create a personalized care plan that blends the therapies most likely to bring you relief and healing. Sessions may include gentle chiropractic adjustments to restore motion, soft tissue therapy to release tension, or decompression to ease pressure on your spine. We often pair these with advanced therapies such as Frequency Specific Microcurrent, cold laser, or ultrasound to calm inflammation and speed tissue repair.
We may also recommend acupuncture to encourage natural healing, or neurofeedback to help your brain and nervous system relax so your muscles aren’t stuck in constant tension. Along the way, we guide you with simple lifestyle, posture, and nutrition strategies to keep the progress going long after your visits.
Most importantly, your care is never rushed. Each step is tailored to you, with ongoing adjustments as your body heals. Patients often tell us that beyond feeling relief from neck pain, they notice more energy, deeper sleep, and a renewed sense of wellbeing.
Our Therapies and Modalities
At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, we bring together a wide range of therapies so your care can be fully customized. Each modality is chosen to support healing, reduce pain, and restore balance in your body.
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Chiropractic Adjustments – Gentle, precise techniques to improve spinal alignment, relieve pressure on nerves, and restore natural motion.
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Soft Tissue & Massage Therapy – Hands-on techniques that release tension, improve circulation, and relax the body.
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Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) – A gentle, targeted therapy that reduces inflammation, calms the nervous system, and supports tissue repair.
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Acupuncture – An ancient healing practice that restores balance, eases pain, and promotes circulation and relaxation.
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Neurofeedback – Brain training that helps regulate stress, improve focus, and calm nervous system patterns that contribute to pain and tension.
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Cold Laser Therapy – Low-level laser light stimulates healing in muscles, ligaments, and joints.
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Therapeutic Ultrasound – Sound waves that penetrate tissues to reduce inflammation and promote faster healing.
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Spinal Decompression – Gentle stretching of the spine to relieve pressure on discs and nerves.
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Lumbar Flexion-Distraction Therapy – A specialized chiropractic technique that reduces disc pressure and improves mobility.
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Myofascial Release & Neuromuscular Therapy – Techniques that release restrictions in connective tissue and restore functional movement.
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Heated Stone Therapy – Warm stones used with massage to relax muscles, reduce stiffness, and improve circulation.
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Far-Infrared Therapy – Gentle heat that penetrates deeply into tissues to ease pain and support healing.
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Functional Medicine Support – Nutrition, stress management, sleep optimization, and lifestyle strategies that strengthen your body from the inside out.
FREE initial Phone Consultation 15 minutes
Free Initial Phone Consultation
We’re excited to offer you a complimentary introductory phone consultation to explore how our services in Functional Medicine, Neurofeedback, Concussion Care, Chronic Pain Care, Chiropractic, Injury Care, Frequency-Specific Microcurrent, Acupuncture, and Comprehensive Therapies can support your health journey. During this consultation, we’ll briefly discuss your condition and determine how we might be able to assist you in achieving your health goals.
Please take a moment to complete the brief questionnaire that was emailed to you. This will help our doctor understand your condition and provide personalized guidance on how we can best support your needs.
We look forward to connecting with you and working together toward your well-being!
Book by Treatment
Functional Medicine/Internal Medicine
Functional medicine/Internal Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and requires participation from both the patient and practitioner. Shifting away from the traditional “sick-care model” to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. As Functional Medicine practitioners, we spend time listening to our patients, asking many questions, and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. https://improveurhealth.com/functional-medicine-clinical-nutrition/
Dr. Shannon A. O'Keefe
Book NowQEEG Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback, also known as EEG (electroencephalogram) biofeedback, is a therapeutic intervention that provides immediate feedback from a computer-based program that assesses a client’s brainwave activity. The program uses auditory or visual signals to help patients recognize their thought patterns and try to modify them. Through this process, clients can learn to regulate and improve their brain function and hopefully alleviate symptoms of various neurological disorders and mental health conditions.
Dr. Janell Matz
Book NowMyofascial - Neuromuscular Therapy & Body Work
Myofascial & Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT): Precision Soft Tissue Treatment At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, we specialize in Myofascial & Neuromuscular therapy. This therapy is a hands-on technique that focuses on relieving pain and restoring motion by targeting the myofascial and Neuromuscular and the connective tissues that surround and support muscles throughout the body. The therapy involves gentle, sustained pressure and stretching to release tightness or restrictions in these tissues, often caused by injury, inflammation, or stress. It’s commonly used to treat chronic pain, improve flexibility, and enhance overall movement and function.
Dr. Janell Matz, a graduate of Northern Light School of Massage Therapy, has spent 30 years mastering soft tissue therapy, making her an expert in addressing complex muscular issues. Whether you need gentle, precise muscle work or deep, specialized techniques, her expertise ensures optimal healing and performance.
Comprehensive Chiropractic & Therapies
Comprehensive Body Treatment is an integrative and holistic approach designed to address a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological concerns through a combination of advanced diagnostic tools and therapeutic modalities. This treatment begins with a thorough diagnostic exam to identify underlying issues and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
The treatment incorporates a range of techniques to optimize body function and promote healing:
Soft Tissue Manipulation: Targeting muscle tension, fascia, and connective tissues to release knots and improve circulation. Ultrasound Therapy: Using sound waves to reduce pain, inflammation, and promote tissue healing. Cold Laser Therapy: Utilizing low-level lasers to stimulate cellular regeneration and reduce pain and inflammation. Frequency Specific Microcurrent: A non-invasive therapy using specific frequencies to stimulate cellular repair and balance electrical activity in the body. Decompression Therapy: Gentle spinal traction to alleviate pressure on discs and nerves, promoting healing in the spine and surrounding tissues. Flexion-Distraction Therapy: A technique that gently stretches and manipulates the spine to relieve pressure on spinal discs and nerves. Chinese Cupping: A traditional therapy using suction cups to improve circulation, release tension, and promote detoxification. Heated Stones: Used to relax tight muscles, improve blood flow, and promote deep relaxation. Stretching: Targeted stretches to improve flexibility, relieve muscle tension, and increase mobility. This comprehensive, multi-modal approach works synergistically to relieve pain, restore function, and enhance overall well-being. Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing chronic pain, or seeking overall body maintenance, the Comprehensive Body Treatment provides a holistic solution for optimal health.
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Acupuncture
Chiropractic acupuncture is the art, science and philosophy of treating disease and injury by stimulating specific energy modulating points on the skin and is an approved specialty within the chiropractic profession. Methods of stimulation include, but are not limited to: needle insertion, electrical stimulation, light, heat and pressure. Chiropractic acupuncture treats a wide variety of health conditions, which includes all systems and tissues of the body and focuses special attention to the relationship between the spine, nervous system and the meridian system. Chiropractic acupuncture is inclusive of all diagnostic and therapeutic principles and procedures taught in acupuncture programs sponsored by CCE accredited colleges, chiropractic state associations and post-graduate certified instructors.
Dr. Janell Matz
Book NowFrequency Specific Microcurrent
At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, we’re proud to offer Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM), an advanced and highly effective method for managing pain and promoting healing. FSM uses specific frequencies and micro-amperage currents to target the root causes of pain and inflammation, helping patients achieve relief and improved health.
Dr. Janell Matz
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