The neck muscles in the section from the upper parts of the back and body to the base of the skull work together and enable neck movements to be performed. These muscles can also act as auxiliary respiratory muscles during breathing. Head with neck muscles; It can stretch and rotate forward, backward and sideways. Flexion to the sides is expressed as lateral flexion and is used to describe the movement of bringing the ear closer to the shoulder. The movement called hyperextension is the backward movement of the head. It is important for the neck muscles to be able to perform their strong and normal functions in order to be protected from injuries of this region and neck pain. Although the main task of the neck muscles is to perform the movements of the head, keeping the head upright thanks to the neck muscles also contributes to the maintenance of normal blood flow to the brain.
What is Neck Stuck?
various structures such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. In addition, there are 7 vertebrae in total in the neck region of the spine. All these structures work in harmony, supporting the head and allowing its movements to take place. Depending on various situations, excessive tension of these muscle structures may result in the restriction of neck movements. It is one of the most common complaints. After back pain, depression and joint pain, it is the 4th most common condition that negatively affects the functionality of the person
What are the Symptoms and Causes of Stiff neck?
Symptoms of stiff neck, It may occur in case of excessive use or stretching or straining of the neck muscles. There may be various reasons for the emergence of this situation, which can result in the formation of pain of varying severity.
The most common causes of stiff neck are muscle strains and soft tissue injuries. Among the neck muscles, the levator scapulae muscle is highly susceptible to injury. this muscle It is mainly responsible for the connection between the neck of the spine and the shoulder. Sudden movement of the head after other traumas
- Whiplash Injury: The whiplash injury, which mostly occurs during traffic accidents, is caused by the sudden forward and backward movement of the head at the time of the accident. Damage to connective tissue elements such as ligaments and muscles in the neck region after this injury may result in neck stiffness. In addition to neck stiffness in whiplash injuries, cognitive symptoms such as headache, dizziness, back and shoulder pain, tingling or heat increase in the neck region, memory loss or difficulty concentrating
- Arthritis (Joint Inflammations): Cervical spondylosis (inflammation of the neck joints) is a discomfort that can progress with pain and stiffness in the neck region. In this disease, the complaint of constant neck stiffness tends to improve with lying down. In this disease, some other symptoms may accompany the complaint of stiff neck: Headache, Numbness and weakness in the hand and arm region, Walking and balance problems. Symptoms of cervical spondylosis patients may worsen if they do work that requires them to stay in a certain position for a long time, such as working at a computer or driving a car. is the term. The development of neck stiffness (stiffness) during meningitis is considered a serious condition. Various viruses, bacteria or fungi can cause meningitis in humans. it can. Care should be taken, especially since bacterial and fungal meningitis can be life-threatening disorders.
- Nausea, vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Confusion and restlessness
- Having trouble waking up from sleep
- Stress and bruises
- Sudden onset fever accompanied by headache and neck stiffness
How is Neck Stiffness Diagnosed?
If the condition causing stiff neck gives symptoms when it occurs, the cause of this complaint is directly This event is acceptable. If there is no associated event in the patient's medical history regarding the treatment of neck stiffness, it may be difficult to reveal the underlying cause. Radiological imaging methods such as MRI) or various laboratory tests such as blood analysis can be used.
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