Cervical Sprain and Strain

August 11, 2023

Cervical sprain or cervical strain is a neck injury, which results in stiffness, pain, weakness, and muscle spasm. A sprain is an injury to bone or a joint capsule providing joint stability. Damaged joint capsule or ligament results in instability in a joint.

A strain is an injury toms and treatment are the same in most cases.

The cause of cervical strain or strain

The cause of both of them can be tearing or stretching of soft tissue. Whiplash during motor vehicle accidents is the most common cause of cervical strains/sprains. The head moves forth and back in a sudden movement during this type of injury, which stretches muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal limits. Cervical strains and sprains can also be caused by improper lifting, fall, improper posture when sitting at a desk and using a computer, contact sports, driving, or something like that.

Cervical sprain and strain symptoms

Pain is the first symptom of cervical strain or sprain. It begins straight after an injury, lingers on a number of hours, or comes after misuse or overuse of the neck muscles and upper back muscles. The pain improves during rest and increases during some activities. Some people may suffer from chronic pain developing from a cervical strain or sprain.

Cervical strain and sprain detection

A specialist at Dynamic Neuromuscular Rehabilitation will ask a patient about what kind of pain he/she is experiencing, where it is located, what could cause the pain, and what makes it improve or worsen, taking a complete medical histo become fully aware of the injury.

When it is necessary to get care for a cervical strain or sprain

If a person has a neck or head injury, or has been injured during moto get a proper treatment.

Cervical strain and sprain treatment

Home care is usually all that is necessary for cervical strains and sprains. It may include rest, pain creams or pain medications, mild stretching, and altering heat and ice. The goal of the last treatment is relaxing sore muscles and alleviating stiffness. However, it can also increase inflammation, thus it is necessary to be careful while carrying it out.

Most patients are usually prescribed pain-relieving and muscle spasm-treating medications. Sometimes, docto support painful tissues.

In cases when home treatment doesn’t help, it is recommended to prevent further injuries by strengthening spine.

As for other treatments, traction, corticosteroids injections, and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) can reduce the pain by increasing circulation to undergo a surgery.
Results of cervical sprain or sprain treatment

In most cases full recovery of cervical strains/strains can be made with the help of home treatment accompanied by a physical therapy regimen. Depending on the extent of the trauma, a full recovery can take from a few days up to several months. The pain may even become chronic, which will be relieved only with invasive treatments.

A neck sprain or strain can result in significant stiffness, pain, and discomfort, thus it is required to prevent any possible health issues in the future.

Specialists at NY Dynamic Neuromuscular rehabilitation have an outstanding reputation gained by perfect results and strong commitment helping patients to prevent complications and further injuries, one should consult a specialist and follow all his instructions.