Neck Strain

What is neck strain?

A strain is a tear of a muscle or tendon. Your neck is surrounded by small muscles that are close to the vertebrae, and larger muscles that make up the visible muscles of the neck.

How does it occur?

Neck strains most often happen when the head and neck are forcibly moved, such as in a whiplash injury or from contact in sports. Sometimes strains happen from an awkward position during sleep or poor posture while working at a computer.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include pain in your neck. When the neck muscles go into spasm you feel hard, tight muscles in your neck that are very tender to the touch. You have pain when you move your head to the side or when you try to move your head up or down. The spasming muscles can cause headaches.

The pain may start right after an injury or may take a few hours or days to develop. Other symptoms may include neck stiffness, dizziness, or unusual sensations, such as burning or a pins-and-needles feeling.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will examine your neck. You may have X-rays to make sure the vertebrae are not injured.

How is it treated?

• Right after the injury, put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a cloth on the area every 3 to 4 hours, for up to 20 minutes at a time.
• If you still have neck pain several days after the injury and after using ice, your healthcare provider may recommend using moist heat on your neck. You can buy a moist-heat pad or make your own by soaking towels in hot water. Put moist heat on your neck for up to 20 minutes at a time every 3 or 4 hours until the pain goes away. You may find that it helps to alternate putting heat and ice on your neck.
• Your healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine and a neck collar to support your neck and prevent further injury. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days.
• Follow your provider’s instructions for doing exercises to help you recover.

How long will the effects last?

How long it takes to recover depends on your age, health, and if you have had a previous neck injury. Recovery time also depends on the severity of the injury. A mild injury may recover within a few weeks, whereas a severe injury may take 6 weeks or longer to recover. Ask your healthcare provider when you can return to your normal activities.

How can I prevent neck strain?

Neck strain is best prevented by having strong and supple neck muscles. If you have a job that requires you to be in one position all day (for example, work at a computer all day), it is very important to take breaks and stretch your neck muscles. Your provider will give you exercises to do while taking breaks from work.