Neck pain and stiffness

Robert Kuizenga

14 hours ago

2 min read

Neck pain is common and may be accompanied by stiffness, headaches or pain that travels into the shoulder or arm. Many new episodes improve within a few weeks, although symptoms and recovery differ from person to person.

What can cause neck pain and stiffness?

Possible contributing factors include staying in one position for a long time, an unfamiliar movement or activity, a previous injury, sleep, stress and recovery. Sometimes irritation of a nerve is involved. Pain does not automatically mean that something is damaged; how the symptoms started and how they change also matter.

What can you do yourself?

Keep moving within comfortable limits instead of avoiding all movement.
Change position regularly, especially during desk work or long journeys.
Gradually return to your usual work, sport and daily activities.
Try heat or cold if this feels comfortable.
Ask your GP or pharmacist about suitable pain relief if needed.

Complete rest or a neck collar is usually unnecessary unless a healthcare professional advises it. Avoid driving or cycling if limited neck movement prevents you from looking around safely.

When should you seek medical advice?

Contact your GP if neck pain or stiffness is not improving after a few weeks, if you are worried about it, or if you develop pins and needles, numbness, weakness or a cold feeling in an arm.

Seek urgent medical advice after a significant accident or if you develop:

rapidly increasing weakness in an arm or leg
difficulty walking or keeping your balance
new clumsiness or loss of coordination in your hands
new changes in bladder or bowel function
a severe headache, fever or feeling very unwell
sudden problems with speech, vision or swallowing

Call 112 in an emergency.

How we assess neck pain at Amsterdam Osteo

During your appointment, we discuss how the symptoms started, how they have changed and what affects them. We examine movement in the neck, upper back and shoulders and consider factors such as work, load, sleep, recovery and stress. Where appropriate, we perform additional screening. If medical investigation is needed, we explain this and refer you to the appropriate healthcare professional.

Can osteopathy help?

Osteopathy does not replace medical care. Manual assessment and treatment may be one part of a broader approach that also includes movement, exercise and advice. A recent Cochrane review found that manual therapy combined with exercise may improve function for some people with mainly persistent neck pain, while the effect on pain compared with placebo was small or absent. Confidence in the evidence was low.

Treatment may include mobilisation, gentle manual techniques and advice about movement and activity. The approach depends on your examination and preferences. We explain what we find and what we can or cannot reasonably influence. A particular result cannot be guaranteed.