Cervical Sprain/Strain
Neck sprains occur when the neck is moved in any one direction too rapidly, stretching it beyond a comfortable limit, resulting in small tears of muscle fibers and spasms. The most common cause is a low- to mid-level trauma, which causes the neck’s muscles, ligaments and tendons to stretch to an extreme position. In most cases, pain is resolved in less than one month.
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Signs and symptoms (may include one or more):
- Neck, mid back, or shoulder pain
- Pain worsens with movement, especially turning to the side
- Poor range of motion
Why it hurts:
- You may feel pain from both the injured soft tissue itself and the adjacent nerve, which can radiate through the shoulder, arms, and hands.
- Headaches and stiffness
- Numbness in the hand or fingers and down the arms