Neck Sprain What is a Neck Sprain? Neck sprain or its aliases: neck spasms, neck muscle strain or simply neck muscle pain, is very common. In fact, neck sprain is the probably the most common source of neck pain. The good news is, that it is also one of the quickest neck problems to heal and rehabilitate. What Causes Neck Sprain? Most causes of neck sprain are muscle, ligament or joint related. Commonly, these neck injuries are caused by neck muscular strains, ligament sprains and/or neck joint dysfunction, particularly when pain arises suddenly during or following physical loading of your neck. Muscle fatigue (poor posture sitting or sleeping eg wry neck), excessive loads (lifting heavy items), or high-speed injuries (eg whiplash, concussions) are the most common causes. The causes of neck pain are numerous but roughly fall into the following categories. Neck Muscle Strain Neck muscle pain is the most common source of neck pain. Muscle fatigue, excessive loads or poor lifting or sitting postures are the most common problems. Inefficient, weak, or neck muscles that lack endurance can lead to poor neck joint stabilisation and subsequent injury to your neck muscles, ligaments, joints or even spinal discs. Posture Fatigue Poor posture when sitting, standing and lifting at work, can place unnecessary stress upon your neck and spine. With muscle fatigue or overstretching, your ligaments and discs can stretch and this places spinal joint muscles and nerves under pain-causing pressure or strain, that results in neck or back pain. Neck Ligament Sprains Ligaments are the strong fibrous bands that limit the amount of movement at available at each spinal level. Stretching ligaments too far or too quickly will tear them with subsequent bleeding into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling, muscular spasm and pain. Awkward lifting, sports injuries (concussion or collisions) and motor vehicle accidents (whiplash) are very common causes. Just as in other regions of the body, physiotherapy hastens ligament healing and relieves pain so that you can enjoy life again as soon as possible. What are Symptoms of Neck Sprain? Neck muscle pain symptoms may range from a mild ache, stiff neck, neck spasms, muscle knots to sudden debilitating neck pain or even shoulder and shoulder blade pain. Typical neck sprain symptoms include: Localised neck pain and stiffness. Neck muscle tenderness, tightness, knots or spasms. You will usually feel better when resting or supporting your neck, and may find that a change of neck position painful eg look down, up or sideways, rolling in bed, lift your head or quick neck movements. Warning Signs of a More Serious Neck Injury? In these instances, or you have constant and severe neck pain, you may have a more severe injury such as a disc bulge or pinched nerve in your neck. These can affect your upper limb and lower limb function. Very severe cases can even affect your bodily function such as your bladder or bowel control. If this is the case, please urgently consult your nearest hospital, doctor or physiotherapist. Neurological signs: pins and needles (paraesthesia) in your neck or arm numbness (anaesthesia) in your neck or arm, arm or leg muscle weakness, altered tendon reflexes (eg biceps to triceps jerk), difficulty lifting arms overhead or walking, loss of control of bladder or bowels. Neck Sprain Treatment Aims PHASE I - Pain Relief & Protection Managing your neck pain is the main reason that you seek treatment for neck sprain. In truth, the pain was actually the final symptom that you developed and should be the first symptom to improve. Your physiotherapist will use an array of treatment tools to protect your neck sprain and reduce your pain and inflammation. These may include ice, electrotherapy eg tens, acupuncture, taping techniques, soft tissue massage, back braces, dry needling etc. Your doctor may also recommend a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. PHASE II - Restoring Normal ROM, Strength As your neck pain and inflammation settle, your physiotherapist will turn their attention to restoring your normal neck motion, muscle lengths and resting muscle tension, muscle strength and endurance, proprioception and joint position sense. Your physiotherapist will commence you on a neck muscle stability program to facilitate your important muscles that dynamically control and stabilise your neck. Your physiotherapist will assess your muscle recruitment pattern and prescribe the best exercises for you specific to your needs. PHASE III - Restoring Full Function Depending on your chosen sport, work or activities of daily living, your physiotherapist will aim to restore your function to safely allow you to return to your desired activities. Everyone has different demands for their necks that will determine what specific treatment goals you need to achieve. Your physiotherapist will tailor your rehabilitation to help you achieve your own functional goals. PHASE IV - Preventing a Neck Pain Recurrence Recurrence of neck pain can and does regularly occur. The main reason it is thought to recur is due to insufficient rehabilitation. In particular, poor deep neck flexor muscle exercises have been shown to render your neck more vulnerable to instability and therefore re-injury. To prevent a recurrence, you should continue a regular series of these exercises a few times per week. Think of your exercises as your anti-neck pain pill! Your physiotherapist will assist you in identifying the best exercises for you.