Stiff neck - the causes
Neck pain is generally referred to as "stiff neck". If you can only move your neck with pain, this is usually a sign of a functional disorder or so-called degenerative changes such as signs of wear and tear in the spine, intervertebral discs or facet joints. Other specialist terms are
- Stiff neck (stiff neck, torticollis)
- neck stiffness
- cervical syndrome or
- Cervical spine syndrome (cervical spine syndrome)
Neck pain or a stiff neck usually does not have one reason alone, but is usually the result of tension in the neck, shoulder and back area. In simple cases, these reasons may be present
- staying in an unnatural posture for a long time
- lying down incorrectly during the night or
- draughts
How long does a stiff neck last and what can I do about it?
If the causes are as mentioned above, the unpleasant symptoms usually disappear after a few days. In the case of extreme tension, this can of course take a little longer. Moderate movements such as
- active relaxation exercises
- Keeping the neck warm
- Endurance sports (no breaststroke, only backstroke or crawl!)
- Back exercises
If the symptoms do not go away or get worse, you should always consult a doctor. It must be determined whether the problems have an underlying cause so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Date: 11.02.2021
Author: Tanja Seiffert