What is neck stiffness?
Stiffness usually occurs when the neck muscles are overused, stretched too far, or strained. This can cause pain ranging from mild to severe that can make it difficult to move the head or use the neck muscles.
The most common causes of a stiff neck include:
A stiff neck often results from minor injury or strain, possibly due to:
More severe neck injuries can cause whiplash. People often experience whiplash during car accidents that cause the head to suddenly jerk forward and backward.
Whiplash is an injury to the muscles, bones, ligaments, nerves in the neck, or all of these. It causes pain and stiffness in the neck.
Other symptoms of whiplash include:
Cervical spondylosis, or arthritis of the neck, can also cause neck pain and stiffness, which may improve when lying down.
The pain may get worse when a person stays in the same position for a long period, such as while driving or sitting in front of a computer. Other symptoms of cervical spondylosis include:
A doctor may diagnose cervical spondylosis with the help of certain tests, such as an X-ray, MRI scan, and a blood test.
Sometimes, a stiff neck is a symptom of meningitis, which can be serious. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which are coverings on the brain and spinal cord.
A virus, bacteria, or fungi may cause meningitis. Viral meningitis can get better on its own, but bacterial and fungal meningitis can be life-threatening. Some symptoms of meningitis include:
A person should seek immediate medical care if these symptoms appear.
- Tight muscles or muscle spasms.
- Inability to move your head, or a decreased range of motion.
- Pain that continues to get worse when you hold your head in one position for a long time.
A sensation of soreness or discomfort in the neck when trying to move it or turn the head from side to side.
