Red Light Therapy for Neck Pain: Put Down the Phone for Five Minutes
← Back to The TANK Journal Red Light Therapy · Pain Relief Red Light Therapy for Neck Pain: Put Down the Phone for Five Minutes By TANK Studio August 2026 7 min read How long have you been looking down at your phone today? We are not judging. But if your neck is starting to feel like you have spent the entire day carrying a bowling ball on your shoulders, it might be time to pay attention. Neck discomfort is incredibly common – often linked to long hours at a computer, excessive phone use, poor posture, muscle tension, stress or sleeping in a position that seemed like a good idea at 11pm. If you are looking for a non-invasive way to support your recovery, red light therapy for neck pain may be something to explore. Why Does Your Neck Hurt? Your neck supports your head, helps you move and allows you to look around. And yet, we spend hours every day putting it in awkward positions. You wake up, look at your phone, sit in the car, work at a computer, check your phone again, watch television and look at your phone before bed. Your neck may reasonably have some complaints. The Problem With Screen Time Phones and computers are not automatically bad for you – the problem is how we use them. When you spend long periods looking downward, your neck and upper back muscles can become strained. Combine that with sitting in the same position for hours and you have got a recipe for stiffness. Common contributors include: Poor posture Long periods at a computer Excessive phone use Muscle tension Stress Sleeping awkwardly Physical activity Previous injuries What Is Red Light Therapy? Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light. These wavelengths may interact with your cells and support cellular energy production, circulation and normal tissue recovery. The treatment is non-invasive and does not involve injections or surgery. How Could Red Light Therapy Help Neck Discomfort? It May Support Muscle Recovery When muscles become tight or overworked, they need time to recover. Red light therapy may support cellular processes involved in normal tissue recovery. It May Support Circulation Healthy circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues. Supporting circulation may help your body with its normal recovery processes. It May Support the Body’s Inflammatory Response Inflammation can sometimes contribute to discomfort and stiffness. Red light therapy is being explored for its potential effects on inflammatory processes. It May Help You Feel More Comfortable Some people report feeling more comfortable after a series of treatments. Results vary, but supporting everyday comfort is one of the key reasons people explore this treatment. Your Phone Might Still Be the Problem Red light therapy can support your wellness routine, but it cannot stop you from spending seven hours hunched over your phone. Try raising your screen, taking regular breaks, moving around, rolling your shoulders gently, adjusting your workstation and keeping screens at a comfortable height. Your neck will probably appreciate it. Can Stress Affect Your Neck? Absolutely. Stress can cause people to unconsciously tense their shoulders and neck. Taking regular breaks and finding ways to relax can help you become more aware of this tension. Professional medical advice is important if you experience severe or persistent pain, significant injury, numbness, weakness or other concerning symptoms. Red light therapy should complement appropriate medical care, not replace it. What Happens During a Tank Studio Session? You get comfortable. The treatment is delivered to the targeted area. You relax. Approximately 20 minutes later, you are done. Sessions are non-invasive, comfortable, drug-free, relaxing and generally require no downtime. Book a Session Ready to support your recovery? Our red light therapy sessions are gentle, non-invasive and designed around you. Book Now Session Pricing Red Light TherapyR300 Restore PackageR600 Recharge PackageR3 050 Reignite PackageR4 730 Sessions max 20 min. Consult your healthcare provider for severe or persistent pain. Get in Touch Questions before booking? We are happy to help. +27 81 814 2255 hello@tankstudio.co.za Ready when you are Give your neckthe break it deserves. Book Your Session