A muscle spasm in the neck is a relatively common occurrence, which typically involves one or more muscles becoming painfully tight and/or fatigued. Neck spasms can interfere with everyday activities such as driving, concentrating, or carrying heavy items.
The Course of Neck Spasms
A neck spasm typically has a sudden onset but can also start gradually. Many people with neck spasms experience one or more of the following:
- Constant or throbbing neck pain, which can range from dull or mild to sharp or burning, and may also go down into the arm
- Twitching with repeated muscle contraction and relaxation occurring rapidly (also called fasciculation)
- Decreased range of motion in the neck and head, sometimes resulting in a stiff neck that cannot move in a specific direction, such as bending or turning to the side
- Cramping with the muscle strongly contracting and not relaxing, which may feel like a tightened knot and/or include sharp pain
- Headache that may start at the same time as the neck spasm, or perhaps as a result of an ongoing spasm and stress
The intensity of a neck spasm can vary greatly, ranging from a flutter in a small neck muscle that is easily ignored to a stronger contraction that pulls the neck and head in another direction. If a neck spasm involves severe pain or pulls the head to one direction, it may also include:
- Trouble with vision, such as from an inability to hold the head still or blurred vision
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Fatigue from numerous head movements, intense pain, and/or elevated stress levels
See Understanding Neck Pain and Dizziness
Neck spasms typically resolve within a few minutes or hours, but it is possible for them to last much longer and become chronic.
In This Article:
- Understanding Neck Spasms
- What Causes Neck Spasms?
- Neck Spasms Animation
Development of Neck Spasms
The exact mechanisms involved in the development of neck spasms are not well understood.
One or more of the following factors may cause a neck muscle spasm:
- A muscle tries to protect itself, such as from strain, overuse, fatigue, inflammation, and/or spinal instability
- A muscle receives altered electrical signals due to an abnormality in the nerve pathways or the brain
See Neck Strain: Causes and Remedies
For many years it was commonly thought that an electrolyte imbalance in a muscle, such as from dehydration, could contribute to muscle spasms or cramps, but that theory has not been supported by evidence in recent years. 1 Giuriato G, Pedrinolla A, Schena, F, Venturelli M. Muscle cramps: a comparison of the two-leading hypothesis. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2018. 41: 89-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.05.006
Getting a Diagnosis for Neck Spasms
For neck spasms that linger longer or keep returning, a diagnosis for the underlying cause is typically sought. A physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor (physiatrist), physical therapist, or chiropractor can accurately diagnose the cause of neck spasms in most instances.
- 1 Giuriato G, Pedrinolla A, Schena, F, Venturelli M. Muscle cramps: a comparison of the two-leading hypothesis. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2018. 41: 89-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.05.006