What Increases Your Risk

Risk factors for neck pain that you cannot control include:

• Age. People older than 50 are more likely to have breakdown (degeneration) of discs or joints, as well as bone spurs in the vertebrae of the neck (cervical spondylosis).
• Recent injury or history of injury. A common injury to the neck is whiplash caused by a car accident.
• Conditions that affect the bones and soft tissues of the neck and back, such as rheumatoid arthritis, a narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spinal stenosis), or a severely curved spine (scoliosis).
• A history of having headaches.

Risk factors that you can control include:

• Awkward positions that put stress on the neck.
• Stress and poor posture, at home or at work.
• Heavy physical work.
• Boredom at or unhappiness with work.
• Depression.
• Smoking.
• Drug abuse.
• Poor physical condition and lack of exercise.