Have you ever experienced a sudden, sharp pain in your neck, making you wonder, ‘Where does this pain come from?’ It could be due to a neck muscle spasm resulting from the involuntary contraction of muscles in your neck.
Simple self-care treatments can relieve the pain caused by neck spasms, but if the pain does not improve over time, it is advisable to consult a physical therapist who will conduct a diagnosis and treat you to promote neck pain relief.
What Are Neck Spasms?
Neck spasms occur from sudden involuntary tightening of the neck muscles, leading to intense pain and stiffness that can last for minutes, hours, or days even after the muscle relaxes and the spasm reduces.
Neck spasms can be the result of various causes, including:
- Muscle strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon that causes the tearing of muscle fibers.
- A muscle sprain, an injury to a ligament in the neck, can lead to spasms.
- Poor posture places extra strain on the muscles, causing painful cramps.
- Lifting heavy objects puts excessive strain on the muscles and ligaments in the neck, causing muscle spasms.
- Repetitive movements or overuse of the muscles can cause cramping and neck spasms.
- Strenuous exercises that cause excessive sweating can lead to the twitching of muscle fibers.
- Sitting at a computer for long periods can cause the muscles to fatigue, leading to spasms.
- Fractures can lead to spasms when the muscles try to hold the broken bones in place.
- Side effects of certain medications cause muscle cramps and spasms.
- A herniated disc in the neck starts leaking inflammatory proteins that inflame the nearby muscles and cause spasms.
- Facet joint osteoarthritis leads to bone spurs which increase inflammation and cause muscle spasms.
- Whiplash, an injury occurring in rear-end car accidents or contact sports, can cause spasms.
- Myofascial pain syndrome that occurs due to the development of painful trigger points affects the muscles, causing tightness and spasms.
- Emotional stress can cause neck muscle tension and pain, leading to spasms.
The symptoms of neck spasms include neck pain and stiffness, numbness or tingling in one arm, shoulder pain, muscle weakness or strain, and headache. If the neck spasm is serious, additional symptoms such as fever, severe headache, increased sensitivity to light, loss of sensation in a limb, and nausea can occur.
Simple Self-Care Treatments
Physical therapy is an excellent way to treat neck pain caused by muscle spasms. Here are some simple and effective self-care treatments that relieve neck spasms and help with neck pain relief.
- Stretches
It is essential to relax the neck muscles that cause spasms, which can be done by stretching. Stretching the tightened muscles loosens them, eases stiffness, and promotes recovery. To do a simple neck stretch, place your right hand on the top of the head and pull your head down towards the right side. Now repeat on the left side and perform three repetitions.
- Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a great way to relieve spasms which can be done by oneself. One can apply gentle pressure on the stiffened neck by moving the fingers in circular motions. If you can’t do a self-massage, visit a trained and licensed physical therapist who can help with massage therapy.
This treatment relaxes and calms the tight neck muscles, releases tension, and eases the pain caused by neck spasms. It also helps restore the normal range of motion in the affected neck area and promotes neck pain relief.
- Heat/Cold Therapy
Applying a heating pad to the neck’s tender area or a warm shower can increase blood flow to the affected area, relax muscles, and ease the pain. Cold therapy with ice cubes wrapped in a towel reduces local inflammation and relieves pain caused by neck spasms.
- Stress Management
As described earlier in this article, emotional stress could result in muscle spasms. Exercising regularly, taking deep breaths, and meditating can help relieve stress and induce relaxation, thus reducing muscle spasms and neck pain.
- Use a Cervical Pillow
Lie on your back with a cervical pillow under your head and allow the tightened and stiffened muscles to relax. Doing this will help ease the neck muscles and reduce spasms.
Final Thoughts
More often, neck spasms are not a severe problem and can easily be treated with the above-said methods. But if the pain persists even after taking treatments, it could be due to an underlying cause that needs to be diagnosed. Always consult your physical therapists before performing any exercises or stretches, as they can guide you properly according to your health goals.