Acute Wry Neck (Neck spasm)

What is acute wry neck?

Acute wry neck is caused by a sudden or unguarded movement and is often accompanied by spasms of the neck muscles. This causes neck pain and an inability to turn your neck through its full range of motion.

What causes neck spasm?

Poor posture is the most common cause responsible for acute wry neck. Sleeping in a poor position where stress is placed on the neck for a prolonged period is also a common cause of Acute Wry Neck. Poor sitting posture at work or at home can also cause this neck condition.

Turning your neck too quickly can also bring on acute wry neck.

Signs and symptoms

• Sharp pain when you rotate your neck
• Loss of movement
• Very stiff neck
• Muscle spasm
• Headache
• Painful first thing in morning.

Treatment

• Mobilising your neck joints
• Soft tissue massage
• Applying heat to the affected area
• Prescribed exercises
• Postural education.