Neck pain

The neck supports the head and therefore has a heavy task. The head weighs about 4-6 kilograms and should sit neatly above the center of the shoulders. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many people, and the head is carried too far forward, resulting in neck pain. But poor posture is not the only source of neck pain.

Anatomy of the neck

The neck consists of 7 cervical vertebrae. Cervical vertebrae are bones with a vertebral body and several pointed projections toward the back and sides. Running through the vertebrae from top to bottom is the vertebral canal.

In the vertebral canal lies the spinal cord. The spinal cord consists of a bundle of nerve tracts from which the nerves exit on the left and right. These nerves then run to the arms to control the muscles and to make the perception of sensation (sensory function) possible.

All around the cervical vertebrae run muscles and ligaments. Important blood vessels that go to the brain also run along the vertebrae. 

Between two vertebrae (except at the uppermost vertebrae) lies an intervertebral disc. These intervertebral discs are made of softer material than the bone of the cervical vertebrae and thus allow mobility and shock absorption in the neck. 

Neck problems
As mentioned, incorrect posture is a common cause of neck pain. This can arise, among other things, from working at a computer frequently or looking down at a smartphone with the head bent forward.

However, there are also more specific problems that cause neck pain. For example, there may be a pinched nerve or a whiplash after an accident. These symptoms do not have to be limited to the neck alone. Neck pain is often accompanied by headache or radiating pain into the arm(s).

Check your neck pain

To find out where your neck pain comes from, you can take the physical therapy check. This is an online questionnaire that determines how the symptoms started and what problems they cause. The result provides insight into the possible cause of the symptoms and their treatment. It is wise to make an appointment with a physical therapist and, with professional guidance, get rid of your symptoms.

Conditions of the neck and head

The list below provides an overview of conditions that cause neck pain and/or headaches. Here you can read more about the anatomy, causes, symptoms, and treatment of pain in the neck and head.