Neck pains are common, almost everyone has had them at some time or another. Sometimes you can feel them pulling sideways on the neck up to the shoulder, sometimes in the upper neck with additional headaches and movement restrictions. There are many different types of neck pain.
Most often they are caused by tension in the neck muscles. This muscle group includes the trapezius muscle, also known as the hooded muscle, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the scapulae levator muscle and the rhomboid muscle. Due to one-sided postures, incorrect movements or changes in the spine, these enumerated muscles can become tense.
Causes
The causes of neck pain are manifold. A distinction is made between acute and chronic causes. Acute neck pain is usually caused by a blockage in the vertebral joints of the cervical spine.
The dysfunction of the joint can cause irritation of nerves in the affected segment. The muscles supplied by these nerves tense up and one gets neck pain. Circulation can also be affected by the dysfunction of the joint.
A muscle that is not supplied with blood properly produces metabolic waste products, which can lead to tension and the formation of so-called myogeloses. These are small hardenings in the muscle, which are caused by the lack of removal of metabolic waste products from the muscle. Even a “wrong” movement can lead to acute neck pain.
A jerky movement can irritate or slightly pull the muscles, it tenses them reflexively and causes neck pain. Pain after weight training, where the neck muscles were active, should also be mentioned as a cause. A sore neck muscle is manifested by neck pain and a strong sensitivity to touch in the neck region.
Chronic neck pain is often caused by long-term postural deformities. Causes can include: making a phone call with your headphones stuck or constantly looking at a screen placed in a certain direction on your desk. Jaw problems such as crunching or pressing also have a long-term effect on the cervical spine. Changes or diseases of the spine, e.g. arthrosis or rheumatic diseases, can also cause neck pain.
