From the Guidelines
Treatment for a cervical neck strain should prioritize rest, ice, and gentle movement for the first 24-48 hours, followed by physical therapy and maintenance of proper ergonomics to prevent further strain and promote healing, as supported by recent guidelines 1.
Key Treatment Components
- Rest the neck for the first 24-48 hours, avoiding activities that worsen pain
- Apply ice for the first 2-3 days (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off), then switch to heat therapy
- Use over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6-8 hours) or naproxen (220-440mg twice daily) to reduce inflammation and pain
- Consider muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (5-10mg three times daily) for severe muscle spasms
- Engage in physical therapy focusing on gentle stretching, strengthening exercises, and proper posture to aid in recovery and prevent recurrence
Importance of Proper Ergonomics
Maintaining proper ergonomics at work and during daily activities is crucial to prevent further strain and promote healing, as emphasized in the guidelines 1.
Recovery Timeline
Most cervical strains improve within 1-2 weeks with these treatments, allowing inflamed muscles and ligaments to heal while reducing pain and promoting proper healing alignment, as noted in the recent studies 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablets are indicated as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions Improvement is manifested by relief of muscle spasm and its associated signs and symptoms, namely, pain, tenderness, limitation of motion, and restriction in activities of daily living
The treatment options for a cervical neck strain include cyclobenzaprine as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions, such as a cervical neck strain 2.
- Key points:
- Use cyclobenzaprine for short periods (up to two or three weeks)
- Rest and physical therapy are also recommended
- Cyclobenzaprine is used to relieve muscle spasm and its associated signs and symptoms, such as pain, tenderness, limitation of motion, and restriction in activities of daily living
From the Research
Treatment Options for Cervical Neck Strain
- Exercise treatment appears to be beneficial in patients with neck pain 3
- Muscle relaxants may be effective in acute neck pain associated with muscle spasm 3
- Epidural corticosteroid injections for radiculopathy have conflicting evidence 3
- Cervical facet joint radiofrequency denervation has weak positive evidence 3
- Surgery may be more effective than nonsurgical therapy in the short term for patients with radiculopathy or myelopathy, but not in the long term 3
Prognostic Factors and Treatment Outcomes
- The presence of interscapular or upper back pain may prognosticate a less favorable result 4
- Older patients can recover as well as younger patients 4
- There is no relation between X-ray findings of flattening or reversal of the cervical lordotic curve and the degree of recovery 4
- Average length of treatment for cervical neck strain can be around 7.4 weeks 4
Importance of Ergonomics and Posture
- Cervical neck strain can be caused by poor posture and ergonomics, such as those encountered during certain otolaryngology surgeries 5
- Chronic strain to the cervical neck can be imparted by certain activities, including cell phone use and surgical procedures 5
- Quantitative description of strain for different types of surgeries can help identify areas for improvement in surgical ergonomics 5