Print OverviewNeck pain is common. Poor posture — whether from leaning over a computer or hunching over a workbench — strains neck muscles. Osteoarthritis also is a common cause of neck pain. Rarely, neck pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Seek medical care for neck pain with numbness or loss of strength in the arms or hands or for pain that shoots into a shoulder or down an arm.Products & ServicesA Book: Back and Neck HealthA Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Pain ReliefShow more products from Mayo Clinic SymptomsSymptoms include: Pain that's often worsened by holding the head in one place for long periods, such as when driving or working at a computer Muscle tightness and spasms Decreased ability to move the head Headache When to see a doctorSeek immediate care if severe neck pain results from an injury, such as a motor vehicle accident, diving accident or fall. Contact a health care provider if neck pain: Is severe Persists for several days without relief Spreads down arms or legs Comes with headache, numbness, weakness or tingling Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry CausesBecause the neck supports the weight of the head, it can be at risk of injuries and conditions that cause pain and restrict motion. Neck pain causes include: Muscle strains. Overuse, such as too many hours hunched over a computer or a smartphone, often triggers muscle strains. Even minor things, such as reading in bed, can strain neck muscles. Worn joints. As with other joints in the body, neck joints tend to wear with age. In response to this wear and tear, the body often forms bone spurs that can affect joint motion and cause pain. Nerve compression. Herniated disks or bone spurs in the vertebrae of the neck can press on the nerves branching out from the spinal cord. Injuries. Rear-end auto collisions often result in whiplash injury. This occurs when the head jerks backward and then forward, straining the soft tissues of the neck. Diseases. Certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer, can cause neck pain. PreventionMost neck pain is associated with poor posture combined with age-related wear and tear. To help prevent neck pain, keep your head centered over your spine. Some simple changes in your daily routine may help. Consider trying to: Use good posture. When standing and sitting, be sure your shoulders are in a straight line over your hips and your ears are directly over your shoulders. When using cell phones, tablets and other small screens, keep your head up and hold the device straight out rather than bending your neck to look down at the device. Take frequent breaks. If you travel long distances or work long hours at your computer, get up, move around, and stretch your neck and shoulders. Adjust your desk, chair and computer so that the monitor is at eye level. Knees should be slightly lower than hips. Use your chair's armrests. If you smoke, quit. Smoking can increase the risk of developing neck pain. Avoid carrying heavy bags with straps over your shoulder. The weight can strain your neck. Sleep in a healthy position. Your head and neck should be aligned with your body. Use a small pillow under your neck. Try sleeping on your back with your thighs elevated on pillows, which will flatten your spinal muscles. Stay active. If you don't move much, increase your activity level. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment Aug. 25, 2022 Print Show references Neck pain. American College of Rheumatology. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Living-Well-with-Rheumatic-Disease/Neck-Pain. Accessed June 30, 2022. Isaac Z, et al. Evaluation of the adult patient with neck pain. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 30, 2022. Miller M, et al., eds. Degenerative conditions of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine. In DeLee, Drez, and Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Elsevier, 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed June 30, 2022. Neck pain. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/neck-pain. Accessed June 30, 2022. Isaac Z. Management of non-radicular neck pain in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 30, 2022. Neck pain. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Neck-Pain. Accessed June 30, 2022. Kazeminasab S, et al. Neck pain: Global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2022; doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4. Too much screen time? Sit up straight to avoid painful tech neck. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. https://findado.osteopathic.org/too-much-screen-time-sit-up-straight-to-avoid-painful-tech-neck. Accessed June 30, 2022. 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There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry