Neck & Head

Cervical Sprain/Strain

Also called: Pulled neck muscle, crick in the neck

Overstretching or micro-tearing of the neck's muscles (strain) or ligaments (sprain) from a sudden movement, awkward sleeping position, lifting, or sustained posture. Most resolve well, but recurring episodes usually mean an underlying movement or postural issue hasn't been addressed.

Common signs

Aching or sharp neck pain with certain movements
Muscle tightness or spasm on one side
Stiffness that's worst in the morning
Pain that stays local (doesn't shoot down the arm)

Seek help now if

Fever with neck stiffness
Pain after significant trauma
Numbness or weakness in the arms or hands
Unrelenting night pain

If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.

What to do first

Keep the neck gently moving through comfortable ranges — full rest prolongs stiffness
Ice or heat, whichever gives more relief
Avoid carrying heavy bags on the affected side for a few days
If it hasn't clearly improved in 5–7 days, get examined

The longer road

Repeated 'cricks' point to joint restriction, weak deep stabilizers, or workstation ergonomics — fix the cause, not just the episode
A movement assessment can identify which segments are restricted and which are compensating

Natural healing options we use

Chiropractic adjustment of restricted segments
Manual therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue work
Attended e-stim for spasm reduction
Ergonomic and sleep-position coaching
Magnesium-rich nutrition for muscle recovery

About imaging

Usually not needed for a first, uncomplicated episode. X-rays become reasonable with trauma, recurring episodes, or exam findings that suggest more than soft tissue.

Daily self-care

Hourly posture resets during desk work
Gentle range-of-motion 3–4× daily
Check pillow height — your neck should stay level with your spine

Book a visit Call 469-620-6245 All conditions

How we can help

Keep working on it at home

Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.

Neck Bulletproofing Mid-back Bulletproofing The Body Audit: test your own range

More in Neck & Head

Whiplash Cervical Disc Herniation Cervical Radiculopathy Cervical Facet Syndrome Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease & Spondylosis Cervical Spinal Stenosis Cervicogenic Headache Tension-Type Headache Migraine Occipital Neuralgia TMJ Dysfunction Torticollis Concussion & Post-Traumatic Headache BPPV Cervicogenic Dizziness Stiff Neck / “Crick in the Neck”Text Neck & Loss of the Neck Curve Stinger / Burner

Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.