The neck always causes pain when turning the head and restricts mobility. As a rule, it then seems that something is indeed “in our neck” in the form of stress – tension, hardening, headaches and Co. included. The good news: such complaints are usually harmless.
What is the neck?
The chiropractor readjusts a stiff neck. Pinched nerves in the spine can also be treated this way. The back of the neck is considered the neck. In the is responsible for the mobility of the head and upper body. The cervical spine and neck muscles are among its most important structures. A “stiff neck“, “strained”, “made a wrong move” or “got too much pull” – these are the triggers many people think of first when they feel tension in the neck. Orthopedic complaints such as cervical spine syndrome and tension headaches are at the top of the list when it comes to neck pain. Neck tension can be remedied – for example through sports exercises that strengthen the neck and also back. In the case of recurring or long-lasting neck pain, further research into the cause is recommended. It is not uncommon for complaints in the neck area to be the result of bad everyday habits. This includes bad posture as well as psychological causes, bad sitting position at work as well as too little sleep. A healthier everyday life can be the key in the fight against neck pain. Above all, this includes reducing stress – in private as well as at work.
Anatomy and structure
Anatomically, the neck – in addition to the cervical spine and neck – includes various muscles and receptors. Muscles in the neck are differentiated into two groups – anterior as well as posterior. The neck receives its bony stability from seven cervical vertebrae. In principle, there is one intervertebral disc between each of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies. The only exception is the absence of an intervertebral disc between the first and second cervical vertebral bodies. The second cervical vertebral body has a special feature – it has a spine (dens axis). The latter, together with the first cervical vertebral body, resembles a hinge and thus enables a jointed connection. The cervical spine in the neck has – in contrast to the thoracic and lumbar spine – additional joints (uncovertebral joints). These serve to reinforce the cervical spine in areas subject to particular stress. The musculature of the neck is characterized by its complex structure. The latter – combined with spatial constriction – is also to be regarded as a decisive cause of disorders with a wide variety of symptoms. Headache, ringing in the ears, dizziness, neck pain as well as pain in the shoulders and arms may well have their cause in the neck as well as the cervical spine.
Function and tasks
The functions of the neck muscles, which are located on the right as well as left side of the vertebral bodies, are very complex. Holding the vertebral bodies in place and allowing the head and neck to move are among the basic functions of the muscles in the neck. Whether tilting movements in the anterior direction, lateral movements, or leaning the head back toward the neck, however, the primary function of the neck muscles is to raise the head. The movements of the head result from an interaction of the various muscles. From a health point of view – also for targeted neck training – the area of the trapezius muscle is of particular importance. This muscle is responsible for raising the shoulders as well as for lowering them under heavier loads. The trapezius muscle, also called the cap or hood muscle, is located in the neck and upper back area. The upper part of this muscle – together with other muscles – is responsible for lifting the shoulders, while the middle part allows the shoulder blades to come together in the direction of the spine. And the lower portion essentially ensures that the shoulder girdle is pulled downward.
Diseases and ailments
When the neck causes discomfort, it is not uncommon for the diagnosis of “stiff neck” to come into focus. It is a matter of muscular tension. The complete neck and shoulder area feels not only hard, but also pressure painful. Problems when parking, for example, are considered typical: Turning around when parking is difficult, hardly possible.The pain can start overnight or gradually increase over a longer period of time. Whatever the case, the complaints are usually unpleasant because they are often accompanied by a great restriction of mobility. If you try to ignore this pain or have already become accustomed to it, you have to expect that the muscular tension will lead to poor posture and incorrect loading of the neck. Misalignment in the neck that is not corrected can lead to kyphotic misalignments and end up triggering herniated discs. Herniated discs in the neck are among the second most common of the spinal complex. Osteoporosis is also considered a trigger for neck pain: in this case, the vertebral bodies of the cervical spine are reduced in terms of density. Pain is also caused by the so-called whiplash injury of the cervical spine. In this condition, which is triggered in particular by a rear-end collision, the focus is on severe overstretching of the neck muscles – in addition to overstretching of the neck muscles in the anterior region. Bony injuries in the neck are comparatively rare – but their consequences are all the more serious: the spinal cord and the delicate bone structures of the cervical spine form a single unit. Spinal cord injuries caused by bone splinters can lead to paraplegia. But in the end, our modern working world with its computer workstations and correspondingly continuous and strenuous movement sequences already leads to fatigue injuries in the area of the neck (repetitive strain injuries, also called secretary’s disease). Once again, then, the boss seems to have been “breathing down our necks.”
