It starts the same way each time. A stiff neck by mid-afternoon at the desk, or a tight lower back after a long drive or a weekend of lifting kids in and out of car seats. You book a massage, it feels much better for a few days, and two weeks later you are back where you started. So the question becomes: should you keep booking massage, see a physiotherapist, or try a chiropractor?

All three can help, and at Trust Care all three are in the same building on Miller Boulevard. But if the pain keeps coming back, hands-on treatment on its own is rarely the whole answer. Alberta Health Services’ 2025 back pain guidance for primary care puts it plainly: massage and spinal mobilization are reasonable options, but recovery should be built on an active, exercise-focused foundation, and becoming dependent on hands-on treatment can get in the way.

General information only, not a diagnosis. Our physiotherapists, chiropractor and massage therapists assess every patient first.

Recurring neck or back pain?

Book an initial assessment or call (825) 525-2983

What each one is for

A massage therapist working on the neck and head of a client lying on a treatment table — Massage therapy is one hands-on option for muscle tension. Illustrative image, not Trust Care staff or patients.

Registered massage therapy works on muscle and soft tissue. At Trust Care it is most often used for chronic tension through the neck, shoulders and low back, and alongside a physiotherapy plan when tight or guarded muscle is getting in the way of progress. It is a good choice when you already know what is going on and you want relief from tension.

Physiotherapy starts with an assessment of why the pain keeps returning. Your physiotherapist takes your history, watches how you move, and checks strength, mobility and the positions or tasks that bring symptoms on. The treatment plan usually combines hands-on care with specific exercise and changes to how you work, drive or lift, with more of the work handed to you over time. It is a sensible starting point when the pain is recurring, getting worse, or came from an injury.

A physiotherapist assessing a woman's neck and shoulder — An assessment looks at how you move and what brings the pain on. Illustrative image, not Trust Care staff or patients.

Chiropractic care at Trust Care is provided by the clinic’s chiropractor, who assesses and treats back and neck pain with hands-on techniques and practical guidance. Some people prefer this approach, and that is a reasonable choice to discuss.

What the evidence supports is the combination rather than any one profession. NICE’s low back pain guideline (updated July 2026) recommends considering manual therapy, which includes spinal manipulation, mobilization and soft tissue techniques such as massage, but only as part of a treatment package that includes exercise.

Whichever you choose, ask what the exercise part of the plan is.

Which to book first

The open treatment area at Trust Care Physiotherapy, with treatment tables and privacy curtains — The treatment area at Trust Care Physiotherapy. Trust Care clinic photo, February 2025.

Start with a physiotherapy assessment if:

the same neck or back pain has come back several times, or each flare lasts longer
it started with an injury, at work or in a car accident
pain, tingling or numbness spreads into an arm or leg
it is stopping you from working, sleeping, driving or exercising the way you want
you want a plan you can follow on your own between visits

Massage is a reasonable first choice if you have general muscle tightness without a specific injury, it is linked to long desk days or stress, and you have no pain or tingling travelling down an arm or leg.

If you are unsure, book the physiotherapy assessment. It tells you what is driving the pain, and massage or chiropractic can then be added where they fit the plan. You can also call the clinic and the team will tell you what the first appointment would look like and what it would cost.

One thing worth knowing if the injury happened at work or in a vehicle: it usually goes through WCB Alberta or Section B auto insurance, not your extended health plan. Say so when you book, so your annual benefits are not used up on something another route covers.

Signs to get medical care first

Most recurring neck and back pain is not dangerous, but a few symptoms need a doctor or emergency department before any of the options above. Alberta Health Services and MyHealth Alberta advise urgent care for:

new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, or numbness, tingling or burning in the area you would sit on a saddle (call 911 if you lose bladder or bowel control)
new or worsening weakness or numbness in your legs
signs of a spine injury after a crash, fall or blow, such as severe neck or back pain, or weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs (call 911)
back pain together with chest pain or other heart attack symptoms (call 911)

See MyHealth Alberta’s urgent back pain symptoms for the full list.

Using more than one service

A physiotherapist guiding a woman through a resistance band exercise for the upper back and shoulders — Guided exercise during a physiotherapy session. Illustrative image, not Trust Care staff or patients.

Physiotherapy, chiropractic and massage are all in the same building, so a plan that uses more than one of them does not mean travelling between clinics. If your plan includes more than one service, ask your physiotherapist how massage or chiropractic would fit around the exercise part of the plan. The mix depends on your assessment and on what you want to commit to.

If neck stiffness is tied to your desk setup, our office posture tips are a practical place to start. For low back pain that has stopped responding to rest, read chronic back pain: when rest stops working.

Coverage, hours and getting here

Most extended health plans in Alberta cover physiotherapy and registered massage therapy, and often chiropractic, usually up to an annual limit and sometimes at a percentage. Trust Care direct bills more than 40 insurers where your plan allows it. Bring your policy and certificate number and the clinic will check what is available before treatment. Details are on the direct billing page.

Direct billing means less paperwork. It does not mean every visit is fully covered.

You do not need a physician referral to book, though some plans ask for one before they reimburse.

The clinic is at 14415 Miller Boulevard NW, with parking directly outside. Hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 7:30 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm, so an appointment does not have to cost you a day of work. Directions are on the Miller location page.

Important: This article is general information only. It is not medical advice and it cannot be used to diagnose or treat any condition. Every patient is assessed first by one of our registered physiotherapists, our chiropractor or our registered massage therapists before any treatment, and your care plan is based on that assessment. If you have symptoms, please book an assessment.

Book your first appointment

If your neck or back keeps flaring up and the relief does not last, start with an assessment that looks at why.

Book an initial physiotherapy assessment or call (825) 525-2983 and tell reception what has been happening. The booking form does not ask for any medical details.