Neck Spasms: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment - Healthline

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Understanding Neck Spasms: How to Find Relief

Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated on June 25, 2019

Causes
Symptoms
Exercises
Home remedies
At night
In children
Anxiety
When to call a doctor

What are neck spasms?

A spasm is an involuntary tightening of muscle in your body. It often causes intense pain. This pain can last for minutes, hours, or days after the muscle relaxes and the spasm subsides.

Spasms can happen in any part of your body where there’s muscle, including your neck.

Neck spasm causes

There are many possible causes of neck spasms. For example, you might develop a neck spasm if you:

strain your neck during exercise
carry something heavy with one or both of your arms
place a lot of weight on one of your shoulders with a heavy bag
hold your neck in an unnatural position for an extended period of time, such as when cradling a phone between your shoulder and ear or when sleeping in an odd position

Other common causes of neck spasms include:

emotional stress
poor posture, such as slouching or head tilting
dehydration, which can cause muscle cramps and spasms

Less common but more serious causes of neck spasms include:

meningitis, a very serious infection that causes swelling in the brain and spinal cord
cervical spondylosis, a type of arthritis that can affect the spine
ankylosing spondylitis, a condition that causes vertebrae in the spine to fuse
spasmodic torticollis, also known as cervical dystonia, which happens when neck muscles tighten involuntarily and make your head twist to one side
spinal stenosis, which happens when open spaces in the spine narrow
temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as TMJs or TMDs, which affect the jaw and muscles that surround it
trauma from accidents or falls
whiplash
herniated disc

Neck spasm symptoms

If you experience a neck spasm, you’ll feel a sudden and sharp pain in one or more parts of your neck, deep in the muscle tissue. The affected muscle might also feel hard or tight. It might be painful to move your neck around.

Neck spasm exercises

Most common, nonserious causes of neck spasms can be treated without medical intervention. If you think you might have a serious neck injury or medical condition, make an appointment with your doctor.

In most cases, gently stretching your neck can help ease stiffness, soreness, and spasms.

Try these three easy neck stretches at home or work:

Simple neck stretch

Sit or stand with your head looking forward.
Gently turn your head to the right.
Lightly place your right hand on the back your head and allow the weight of your hand to push your chin down toward the right side of your chest.
Relax your muscles and hold your head in this position for 15 seconds.
Repeat this stretch three times on each side.

Scalene stretch

Sit or stand with your arms hanging down at your side.
Reach your hands behind your back and grasp your left wrist with your right hand.
Gently pull your left arm down and tilt your head to the right side until you feel a light stretch in your neck.
Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.
Repeat this stretch three times on each side.

Home remedies

Using one or more home remedies might help relieve neck spasms.

Over-the-counter pain relievers

To reduce neck pain from a neck spasm, it might help to take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as:

aspirin (Bufferin)
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
naproxen sodium (Aleve)
acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Many OTC pain relievers ease muscle tension by reducing inflammation that can worsen the pain of a neck spasm. Read and follow the dosage directions provided on the package of the pain reliever. Some pain relievers can be harmful if used in excess.

Ice pack

Applying an ice pack or cold compress to sore muscles in your neck might provide relief from pain, especially in the first couple of days after you experience a neck spasm.

Don’t put ice or ice packs directly on your skin. Instead, wrap an ice pack or bag of ice in a thin cloth or towel. Apply the wrapped ice to the sore part of your neck for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time.

Reapply the wrapped ice as often as once an hour for the first 48 to 72 hours after a neck spasm.

Heat therapy

Heat therapy might also help soothe pain in your neck. For example, you might find it helpful to take a warm shower or press a warm cloth, warm water bottle, or heating pad to your neck.

Shop for heating pads online.

To avoid burns, always check the temperature before you apply heat therapy to your neck. If you’re using a warm water bottle or heating pad, place a thin cloth between it and your skin. Avoid falling asleep with a heating pad on your skin.

Massage

Massage is another home treatment that might help relieve neck pain and spasms. Applying pressure to your neck muscles can promote relaxation and relieve tension and pain. One 2014 study found that even short massage treatments can greatly reduce neck pain.

You can give yourself a massage by pressing gently but firmly into the tight part of your neck muscle and moving your fingers in a small circular motion. Or ask a friend or family member to help massage the area.

Light activity

Rest is an important part of the recovery process, but total inactivity is rarely recommended.

Try to keep moving, while taking time off from strenuous activities. For example, avoid lifting heavy objects, twisting your neck or upper back, or taking part in contact sports until your symptoms subside. Stick with gentle stretches and other light activities that you can do without making the pain in your neck worse.

Neck spasms at night

You might experience neck spasms at night if you:

sleep in a position that strains your neck
use a mattress or pillow that doesn’t provide enough support
clench or grind your teeth while sleeping

To minimize strain on your neck, try to sleep on your back or your side instead of your stomach.

Consider using a feather or memory foam pillow that conforms to the contours of your head and neck. Your pillow should be supportive but not too high or stiff. A firm mattress might also help.

Find memory foam pillows online.

If you think you might be clenching or grinding your teeth at night, make an appointment with your dentist. They might recommend a mouth guard. This device can help protect your teeth, gums, and jaw from the harmful effects of clenching and grinding.

Neck spasms in children

In most cases, neck spasms in children are caused by muscle strain. For example, your child might have strained their neck while:

spending long periods of time looking at a smartphone, computer, or television
playing sports or taking part in other physical activities
carrying a heavy backpack full of school supplies
sleeping in a position that strains their neck

Mild cases of neck pain and spasms can usually be treated with rest, OTC pain relievers, and other home remedies.

If you suspect that your child has injured their neck in a fall or car accident, or while taking part in a contact sport or other high-impact activity, call 911. They might have a spinal cord injury.

If they have neck stiffness and a fever over 100.0°F (37.8°C), take them to the nearest emergency department. It might be a sign of meningitis.

Neck spasms and anxiety

Muscle stiffness and pain can be caused by emotional stress, as well as physical stress. If you develop a neck spasm at a time in your life when you’re coping with high levels of anxiety or stress, the two might be connected.

If your neck spasm is linked to anxiety or stress, relaxation techniques might help ease your symptoms. For example, it might help to:

meditate
practice deep breathing exercises
take part in a session of yoga or tai chi
get a massage or acupuncture treatment
take a relaxing bath
go for a walk

It’s normal to feel anxious sometimes. But if you frequently experience anxiety, stress, or mood swings that cause significant distress or interfere with your daily life, talk to your doctor.

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor might refer you to a mental health specialist for diagnosis and treatment. They might recommend medication, counseling, or other treatments.

When to call your doctor

Some causes of neck spasms are more serious than others. Be sure to call your doctor if:

your neck pain is the result of an injury or fall
you develop numbness in your back, limbs, or other body parts
you have trouble moving your limbs or lose control of your bladder or bowels
your symptoms make it difficult to sleep at night or take part in normal activities
your symptoms don’t get better after a week
your symptoms return after subsiding

If you don’t already have a provider, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect to physicians in your area.

Seek emergency medical attention if you develop symptoms of meningitis, including a stiff neck and high fever over 100.0°F (37.8°C). Other potential symptoms of meningitis include:

chills
headache
purple areas on your skin that look like bruises

Your doctor can help diagnose the cause of your symptoms and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bakar Y, et al. (2014). Short term effects ofclassic massage compared to connective tissue massage on pressure painthreshold and muscle relaxation response in women with chronic neck pain: Apreliminary study. DOI:http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.05.004
Chronic pain. (2016).https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/chronic-pain
Cohen SP. (2015). Epidemiology,diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.008
Do you have a stiff neck? Try these simpleremedies. (2015).https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-have-a-stiff-neck-try-these-simple-remedies/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Neck pain.https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/neck-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050882
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Muscle cramp.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/home/ovc-20186047
Neck pain or stiffness. (2019).https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/neck-pain-or-stiffness/
Neck spasm exercises. (2014).http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/library/adult_health/sma_neck_spasm_exercises/
Say “good night” to neck pain. (n.d.).https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/say-good-night-to-neck-pain

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Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated on June 25, 2019

Neck Spasms: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment - Healthline

Neck spasm causes

Neck spasm symptoms

Neck spasm exercises

Simple neck stretch

Scalene stretch

Home remedies

Over-the-counter pain relievers

Ice pack

Heat therapy

Massage

Light activity

Neck spasms at night

Neck spasms in children

Neck spasms and anxiety

When to call your doctor

How we reviewed this article:

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