What are neck spasms?
Neck spasms are involuntary contractions of the muscles in
your neck. The muscles become tight, hard, and painful.
How do they occur?
Neck spasms may occur from an injury, overuse, poor posture,
or stress. For example, it is common for a person doing a
lot of computer work to feel his or her neck stiffen. Spasms
may even occur from an uncomfortable night's sleep.
What are the symptoms?
The muscles in your neck feel hard, tight, and painful. When
the muscles that extend from your shoulders to your head go
into spasm, the spasms may even cause headaches. You may
have tender spots in your neck, sometimes called trigger
points, that cause pain elsewhere.
How are they diagnosed?
Your health care provider will review your medical history
and examine your neck.
How are they treated?
- Stretching: Spasms are best treated with stretching
exercises.
- Massage: You may be able to massage your neck yourself by
finding the tight muscles and putting deep pressure on
these muscles. You might also get a massage from a friend
or therapist.
- Medicine: Your health care provider may recommend an
anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or
may prescribe a muscle relaxant.
- Ice: If your neck spasm has just occurred, put ice packs
on your neck for 20 to 30 minutes three to four times a
day.
- Moist heat: Sometimes, especially with recurrent spasms,
moist heat can help. Put warm, moist towels on your neck
for 20 minutes, or take hot showers or baths.
- Physical therapy: Your health care provider may recommend
seeing a physical therapist for an exercise program and
other treatments.
- Injection: If the above treatments do not help the spasm
get better, your health care provider may recommend a shot
of an anesthetic or a medicine like cortisone into the
muscle.
- Stress management: Neck spasms are a common physical
symptom caused by stress or depression. Identification of
these problems and treatment of them may help considerably
with neck spasms.
When can I return to my sport or activity?
You may return to your sport or activity when:
- You no longer have neck pain.
- You can move your neck fully and comfortably.
How can I help prevent neck spasms?
Know what you can do about the common causes of neck spasm:
overuse, stress, and poor posture. For example, use good
posture at your computer terminal, take frequent breaks, and
do stretching exercises.
When you first feel tightness or pain in your neck, start the
treatment that has helped you the most. Treating early, mild
symptoms right away can often stop the symptoms from becoming
worse.
Written by Pierre Rouzier, M.D., for McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.