Stiff
Neck Pain
Terms you should know
Cervical : Pertaining to neck
Anatomy : Study of structure
Soft tissue abnormalities : Injury or prolonged wear and tear of tissues the muscles, ligaments, and nerves.
Whiplash injury : Injury produced by forceful, rapid, backward and/or forward movement of the neck beyond the neck’s normal range of motion.
Cervical spondylitis : Arthritis of the cervical spine produced by wear and tear of the vertebrae of the neck.
The cervical spine is a complex structure. It includes seven small vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, the spinal cord, blood vessels, eight nerves, thirty-tow muscles, and ligaments. The vertebrae begin at the base of the skull and end at upper part of back. The vertebrae are labelled as C1-C7 , the alphabet ‘C’ indicating cervical, and the numbers 1-7 indicating the level of the vertebrae, C1 is closest to the skull, while C7 is closest to the thoracic (chest) region of the spine.
The bony vertebrae along with the ligaments provide stability to the spine. The muscles allow for support and motion. The neck is capable of supporting a head weighing 15 pounds. Neck mobility is matchless. It is capable of moving the head in nearly all directions. It has forward motion, backward motion, 180 degrees of side to side movement, and can tilt to either shoulder. Because of its complex anatomy and large range of motion, the cervical spine is particularly susceptible to degenerative problems.
Neck pain may originate from any neck structure but is usually due to abnormalities in the soft tissues – the muscles, ligaments, and nerves – as well as in the bones and joints of the spine. The most common causes of neck pain are soft tissue abnormalities due to injury or prolonged wear and tear. In rare cases, infection or tumours may cause neck pain.
