This is a very common symptom that usually affects adults, but can actually affect anyone.
The anatomical area involved - the so-called cervical - is a very delicate area of the human body; here, in fact, reside the first 7 vertebrae of the spinal column and, within these, the very first part of the spinal cord, one of the two components fundamentals of the central nervous system (the other is the brain contained within the skull).
In addition, there are the first 8 pairs of spinal nerves (which branch off from the spinal cord itself), various muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments.
Depending on the triggering causes (which will be discussed later), cervical pain can be associated with other symptoms, of a painful nature but not only.
In the most common cases, neck pain is combined with headache (mostly tension headache or muscle-tension headache), stiff neck and neck stiffness; less frequently or even in very rare cases, it is accompanied by radicular pain and neurological disorders (eg: tingling, numbness, lack of strength) along the upper limb, coordination and balance problems, bladder and bowel incontinence, fever, weight loss .
In most cases, cervical pain resolves spontaneously, or by resorting to trivial measures, within a few days / weeks; this is because, often, it is the consequence of conditions that are not very relevant from a clinical point of view.
However, it is important to know that, when it is the expression of clinically important causes, neck pain can be chronic and / or can manifest itself with severe and debilitating symptoms.
In the light of what has been said, therefore, it is good to never underestimate the pain in the neck, but rather always evaluate its extent and duration, so as to promptly contact an expert.
For further information: Neck pain: Definition, Symptoms and Treatment of the muscles of the cervical area, or of distortions of the ligaments that join the cervical vertebrae; these conditions of a muscular-articular nature - which can sometimes be defined as injuries - recognize numerous causes, including:
- Bad posture. Keeping the head bent forward or backward for a long time, or in an unnatural position, generates stress and tension in the neck muscles, which consequently become painful.
Particularly widespread is the first incorrect postural attitude (head bent forward): it is often observed, in fact, in people who look at the PC screen (when this is ergonomically badly positioned), the tablet or the smartphone. - Incorrect positioning of the head while sleeping. During sleep, if the head takes an abnormal angle or bends unnaturally, the neck muscles could be affected by developing painful tension and contractures.
- Acute trauma. When the head makes a sudden and violent movement, first backwards and immediately afterwards, muscles, tendons and ligaments are subjected to extreme stress, which results in muscle tension or contractures and, in the worst case, even in sprain of the ligaments. cervical.
This injury dynamic is commonly known as whiplash.
Neck pain of traumatic origin is typically the result of car accidents or physical impacts or collisions in contact sports. - Repetitive movements. The exasperated repetition of certain movements with the head can cause excessive stress to the muscular and ligament apparatus of the cervical tract, resulting in local pain.
Experts define this injury dynamic with the expression of "functional overload".
Cervical pain from functional overload is typical of those who practice physical activities such as swimming or dancing, which involve frequent movements of the head.
Less commonly, neck pain is due to:
- Cervical disc disease, such as degenerative disc disease or herniated disc (or herniated disc);
- Forms of arthritis, in particular cervical arthrosis (or cervical spondylosis) and rheumatoid arthritis;
- Spinal tumors (of the vertebrae or spinal cord)
- Cervical spondylolisthesis, a "spinal anomaly, characterized by the unnatural sliding of a cervical vertebra on the underlying cervical vertebra;
- Infections, such as meningitis
- Excessive stress
- Fibromyalgia;
- Myofascial pain syndrome.
The exercises for neck pain act on the muscles and joints of the neck but not only; after all, it is unthinkable to separate the cervical tract from the rest of the human body and treat it as something in its own right: the cervical tract is connected to the shoulder and thoracic spine.
