What causes neck pain?

Neck pain (also known as cervicalgiaor cervical pain) is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain can be acute (lasting for 6 weeks or less) or chronic (lasting for 3 months or longer).

The more common causes of neck pain include:

- Stress
- Prolonged or poor postures (eg. using a computer or falling asleep in an awkward position)
- Muscular strains and over use
- Minor injuries and falls
- Whiplash (have a link to info below)
- Pinched nerves
- Herniated discs

Degenerative changes can also contribute to neck pain and this may cause more ongoing pain. These include:

- spondylosis� arthritis and osteophytes
- spinal stenosis � a narrowing of the spinal canal

Usually, everyday activities are to blame for neck pain. However, for most people, no specific reason for the pain can be found.

Serious causes of neck pain are rare (