Neck stiffness

Painful limitation of active and passive cervical spine motion due to muscle spasm, inflammation, trauma, meningeal irritation, or structural abnormalities of the cervical spine.

Causes

• Muscular causes

  • Cervical muscle spasm

  • Muscle strain

  • Poor posture

  • Overuse or repetitive neck movements

  • Myofascial pain syndrome

• Traumatic causes

  • Whiplash injury

  • Cervical soft tissue injury

  • Fracture or ligament injury of the cervical spine

• Infectious and inflammatory causes

  • Meningitis with meningeal irritation

  • Cervical epidural abscess

  • Inflammatory disorders affecting cervical structures

• Degenerative and structural causes

  • Cervical osteoarthritis

  • Cervical spondylosis

  • Herniated cervical disc

  • Cervical spinal stenosis

  • Facet joint degeneration

• Neurological causes

  • Cervical radiculopathy

  • Cervical myelopathy

  • Spinal cord compression

• Other causes

  • Rheumatologic disorders affecting the cervical spine

  • Temporomandibular or upper shoulder disorders causing referred neck pain

  • Postoperative or immobilization-related stiffness