Neck Pain Causes

Neck pain can be caused by:

• An activity that harms the neck.
• An injury.
• Another medical condition.

Sometimes neck pain may not have a clear cause.

Activities that cause neck pain

Neck pain can be caused by activities that involve repeated or prolonged movements of the neck. This can result in a strain (an overstretched or overused muscle), a sprain (injury to a ligament), or a spasm of the neck muscles.

These activities include:

• Holding your head in a forward or odd position for long periods of time while you work, read, watch TV, or talk on the phone.
• Sleeping on a pillow that is too high or too flat or that doesn't support your neck, or sleeping on your stomach with your neck twisted or bent.
• Spending long periods of time resting your head on your upright fist or arm.
• Work or exercise that uses the upper body and arms, such as painting a ceiling or other overhead work.

Injuries that cause neck pain

Minor injuries may occur from tripping or falling a short distance or from too much motion of the cervical spine.

Severe neck injuries may occur from:

• Whiplash in a car accident.
• Falls from great heights.
• Direct blows to the face or to the back or top of the head.
• Sports-related accidents.

Medical conditions that cause neck pain

Certain medical problems can cause neck pain. These include:

• Problems related to aging, such as:
  • Narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spinal stenosis).
  • Arthritis of the neck (cervical spondylosis).
• Chronic conditions, such as:
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis.