Oxford University Hospitals
NHS Trust

Physiotherapy Department

Acute Neck Pain – a guideto help your recovery
Information for patients

Most acute neck injuries are not serious and the pain will
improve over time. It is important to keep your neck moving
whilst it is recovering, as this will prevent stiffness and help you
to get better faster. Staying still for too long can be unhelpful
and can slow your recovery.

The first few days
• Take painkillers for pain relief. Your doctor may have prescribed
you some painkillers. Alternatively, your local pharmacist will
be able to recommend suitable medicines.
• Try to stay active, even if this means changing the way you doyour usual activities at first.
• Applying heat packs on the back of your neck can be soothing,or alternatively try an ice pack. Wrap the ice pack or heat padin a tea towel before using, to prevent burns or scalds to yourskin. Leave this on for 10 minutes at a time.
• Try to sit with an upright posture. If you slouch (sit with yourback curved) your chin tends to move forward. This canmake your neck feel sore after a while. You may be more
comfortable if you support your lower back with a rolled up
towel and sit in an upright chair. Get up and stretch regularly.
• Arrange your pillows in bed so there is good support foryour neck.

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Early exercises• Move your head up• and then down;• lean it to the right and then the left;• turn your head to the right andthen the left.
• Move slowly in one direction and then in
the opposite direction. Move your head as
far as you feel you can.
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• Slowly shrug your shoulders up and down. You can try rollingthem as well.
• Gently draw your chin backwards as if making a ‘double chin’.

Repeat each movement up to 10 times in each direction every
1-2 hours or as your pain allows. Avoid rolling your head aroundas this may damage your neck further. You may benefit fromtaking pain medication 30 minutes before exercising. This will
help you feel more comfortable when moving.

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Further exercises
Once your neck pain has started to settle you can try these
exercises:• Put your hand on the side of your head and apply pressure. Do
not move your head. As you resist the pressure you will feelyour neck muscles contracting. Hold the pressure for up to 10
seconds, then release gently.
Repeat on the other side.

• In the same way, push forwards against both hands on yourforehead, then backwards against your clasped hands behind
your head.
• Sit down and fix your eyes on a point on the wall straightahead. Close your eyes and turn your head as far as you canto the right. Keeping your eyes closed, turn back so that when
you open your eyes you can see the same point in front ofyou. Check to see how close you were. Try it looking to theleft. With practice you will get better at it. You can also try thisexercise looking up and down.

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Warning signs
You should see your GP or go to Accident and Emergency if you
have:- changes to your vision- severe muscle spasm in your neck or shoulder area
- “pins and needles”, numbness or weakness in your arms
- any balance problems or difficulty walking.

Further information• The Whiplash Book – UK Edition: How You Can Deal with aWhiplash Injury. Authors: Kim Burton, Tim McClune, Gordon
Waddell. Published by TSO (The Stationery Office)• www.nhs.uk• www.patient.co.uk

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Questions and how to contact us
If you have any questions, please contact us:
Physiotherapy Department
Horton General HospitalBanbury
Tel: 01295 229 432
orPhysiotherapy Department
John Radcliffe Hospital
Headley Way
Headington
OxfordTel: 01865 221 540
orPhysiotherapy Department
East Oxford Health Centre
Cowley Road
OxfordTel: 01865 264 970
This leaflet is designed to be used alongside advice given to you
by your Physiotherapist. It is not designed to replace their advice.

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If you have a specific requirement, need an interpreter,a document in Easy Read, another language, large print,
Braille or audio version, please call 01865 221 473
or email PALSJR@ouh.nhs.uk

Authors: Huw Jones, Senior Physiotherapist
Tom Kelly, Senior Physiotherapist, The Horton Hospital
November 2014
Review: November 2017
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Oxford OX3 9DU
www.ouh.nhs.uk/information
OMI 11121P