Neck pain is a common complaint. It may begin as a stiffness in the neck radiating into the shoulder. In some people the pain can be felt in the neck,shoulder,arm, hand and fingers. It can occur suddenly such as after a whiplash injury or begin as a ” creek” in the neck with pain into the shoulder. “Wear and tear” ( osteoarthritis) in the joints or disc in the can also cause these symptoms. Sometimes poor posture (sitting or standing ) or even carrying heavy books or bags may irritate the muscles and joints in the neck area. It is also important to consider sleep posture and the correct use of a pillow that is not too high or too low that could pull on the neck muscles while asleep in bed.
During a neck examination certain orthopaedic tests may be performed to locate the problem area.Sometimes blood pressure may also be recorded as part of the examination.