A draught of cold air, not wearing a scarf and getting neck pain is what your Granny used to say caused a cricked neck. It has had quite a few names over the years, acute wry neck, acute torticollis. We’re all taking about the time where you wake up and think you’ve slept ‘funny’ and can’t move your head/neck Oh, and it hurts a lot when you try.

It’s likely to be where the little joints in your neck have been put in a position they don’t like – different pillows and an already (possibly unknown) stiffness in the neck meaning it getss irritated and then the brain tells the neck to lock up so you can’t move it and therefore can’t damage it. There is usually no damage just that the chemical irritation drive the protection mechanism and muscles will tighten up massively to protect it.

Classically it’ll be really sore for a couple of days then it’ll start to ease off. They do tend to get better on their own. Why have physio then? Well, there are some great techniques that can ease pain in the short term. Taping can help take some pressure off the over active muscles. Exercises can start to free it up sooner. Make sure that there is no residual stiffness that might pre-dispose another episode further down the line.

Here’s a video of a great exercise that can help in those first couple of days that can really help get the neck moving and reduce pain.

If you need some expert guidance you can always book in to see one of our physios here or call us on 656340 if you want to chat to a human!