What are neck tensions?

By definition, the word “muscle tension” is understood to mean prolonged, involuntary contractions of a muscle or series of muscles. The consequences are muscle pain and an increase in muscle tone. This can lead to movement restrictions, as the affected patient adopts a relieving posture, which in turn causes other muscles to engage in unnatural, anatomically unfavorable and non-economic muscle activity.

Inflammation of a muscle attachment tendon can also be partially observed as a result. Neck pain is acute if it lasts up to three weeks. If they reappear after one month, they can be called recurrent.

Neck pain that lasts longer than three months is considered a chronic disease. Possible causes can be very different. First of all, groupings of triggering factors can be determined.

One group is on the osseous/articular (bony/articular) level. This can be, for example, hyperkyphosis (see ankylosing spondylitis) or hyperlordosis (hollow back) of the spine or any form of scoliosis. It also includes intervertebral disc lesions (herniated disc, spinal canal stenosis) or degenerative changes (signs of wear and tear in old age).

The following diseases are typical degenerative processes: arthrosis, spondylosis, chondrosis, cervical spinal canal stenosis, cervicocephalic syndrome, osteoporosis, rickets. Another group for neck pain are myogenic (muscular) dystonias. In general, one speaks of cervical dystonia when the muscle activity in the neck is impaired by muscle tension.

Typical triggers are here: Strained muscles, draught, lack of exercise, one-sided strain, lack of calcium. Traumas (injuries) can also be the cause of neck complaints: whiplash, vertebral fractures, tumor diseases, psychological factors, inflammation and respiratory problems and many more can cause a cervical spine syndrome or general neck complaints as a result. However, the most important trigger is lack of exercise and one-sided posture.

Therefore, you will find exercises for the neck in the following to eliminate precisely these civilization-related causes. The articles might also interest you.

Pinched nerve in the cervical spine
Exercises against neck pain
Physiotherapy for a whiplash injury
Physiotherapy for a cervical spine syndrome