Neck pain is a musculoskeletal condition that affects around 222 million people globally. Although for some, a neck ache can be mild, for others, it can be debilitating and affect many aspects of their lives.

But what are some of the common causes of neck pain that you should know about? If you can narrow down the reason for your discomfort, you may be able to take action and help relieve the strain.

While you might need a medical professional to identify why your neck is sore, there are some causes you may be able to spot without expert help.

Read on to learn more about neck pain.

Poor Posture

If you are coping with neck pain, your posture could be the cause. For example, you could find your head is dropping forwards and increasing the stress on your cervical spine. It’s easy for hunching forwards or slouching to become a habit, and you may not initially notice your posture isn’t ideal.

Think about how you are sitting or standing, and try to adopt a more balanced position rather than leaning too much in one direction and overbalancing your body.

Trauma

Your neck could suffer an injury in many situations, such as when you are playing sports or if you were to fall. You could also suffer neck trauma if you were in a car accident.

In these scenarios, there could be problems such as soft tissue damage or bone fractures. Neck pain treatment options could include physiotherapy or surgery, depending on the severity of the trauma and your recovery plan.

Tension

Being tense can cause your muscles to contract, and if you are stressed for long periods, this could lead to neck pain symptoms such as pain and inflammation.

In this case, you may benefit from using pain management techniques to relieve the strain. These practices could help you to feel more relaxed and reduce your neck ache.

Age-Related Wear and Tear

If you have chronic neck pain, you could ask a physician to carry out a thorough examination of your neck to determine the cause of your soreness. They could determine you have a condition such as cervical spondylosis. This refers to the natural wearing down of structures such as the disks and bones in your neck.

Should you need treatment, your physician can then advise on the best course of action to look after your neck going forward.

Look Out for These Causes of Neck Pain

There are many causes of neck pain, and it can be challenging to pinpoint which one is the reason for your soreness. Having poor posture could be one explanation for neck aches, and suffering an injury can also lead to agony. In addition, being tense could make your neck hurt, while wear and tear may be the underlying cause of your trouble.

If in doubt, you might want to ask a physician for an evaluation and diagnosis.

If you’ve found this post helpful, read more of our health articles before you go.