Neck Muscle Spasms Symptoms and Remedies
Neck spasms can quickly ruin your day. They might start as just a slight discomfort, maybe a little tightness when you turn your head. You might try to ignore it and push on through your work, shifting positions at your desk, or maybe rubbing your shoulders. But more often than not, the discomfort only increases, and even the slightest motion can cause you to feel that familiar jolt of pain.
At Upper Cervical Chiropractic in Monmouth County, many new patients come to us searching for relief from neck spasms and the associated stiffness and soreness.
While neck muscle spasms may seem like a temporary annoyance, they can cause more than stiffness. Many people experience dizziness, headaches, and even vision disturbances, which affect their ability to focus at work, drive safely, or simply relax. Over time, recurring spasms signal a deeper issue that can’t be resolved by painkillers, heating pads, or stretching alone.
Rather than just masking symptoms with pain killing drugs, Upper Cervical Chiropractic targets the root cause of your neck pain. Our practice focuses specifically on helping patients resolve spinal misalignments (known as a subluxation), particularly those of the atlas (C1) vertebra, which play a key role in posture and nerve function.
Through gentle, precise adjustments, Upper Cervical care naturally releases “postural tension” throughout the body, allowing muscles to function without strain. The QSM3 approach enhances this by utilizing a noninvasive, full-body postural correction method, helping to restore balance and prevent future spasms.
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How Neck Muscles Work
Most people don’t give their necks much thought, that is until the area makes its presence known in the form of spasms and pain. But it’s helpful to understand that your neck does much more than just support your head. Within your neck lies a complex system of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels that controls movement, posture, and essential functions like swallowing, breathing, and speaking. Whenever you turn your head, look down at your phone, or check your rearview mirror, dozens of muscles work together to create smooth, controlled motion.
Nerves originating in the upper cervical spine send messages to these muscles, telling them when to contract and relax. At the same time, blood vessels deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain and to the muscles.. When this system is working correctly, you can move freely and comfortably. However, when the spinal structure is misaligned, particularly in the upper cervical region, the body compensates by tightening muscles to stabilize the head and neck.
Over time, this unnatural tension can lead to headaches, chronic stiffness, muscle fatigue, and spasms. Here at Upper Cervical Chiropractic, we address these misalignments at their source, and patients feel the difference. Our care helps to restore balance within the entire body, which results in muscle strain relief and fewer neck spasms.
What Causes Muscle Spasms in the Neck?
Neck muscle spasms can appear to come out of nowhere. However, they don’t just happen for no reason. This muscle tightening is the body’s protective response to overuse, strain, or instability. When muscles detect a potential injury or stressor, they contract involuntarily to prevent further damage. This reaction is meant to be temporary protection, but recurring spasms often mean that there’s an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.
Some of the most common causes of neck muscle spasms include:
- Poor Posture & Repetitive Strain: Tech neck has become an epidemic as most of us constantly look down at our phones or lean over a keyboard and stare at a screen. This posture, with its rounded shoulders, places excess strain on the neck, leading to muscle fatigue and tension.
- Sleeping Positions: Using a non-supportive mattress or the wrong type of pillow can cause your neck to remain at an unnatural angle for many hours, triggering tightness and spasms.
- Dehydration & Muscle Fatigue: Muscles need proper hydration and electrolytes to function. Without them, they can cramp and spasm.
- Injuries like Whiplash or Herniated Discs: Sudden impacts, such as car accidents or sports injuries, can cause the neck muscles to tense up in response to trauma. These injuries can create a misalignment, which if left unaddressed can cause chronic issues.
- Atlas Misalignment & Chronic Tension: The atlas (C1) vertebrae supports the head and protects the brain stem. When misaligned, the body compensates by tightening neck muscles to keep the head level, leading to chronic stiffness and recurrent spasms.
- Spinal Misalignment & Chronic “Postural” Tension: Misalignments in the pelvis or lumbar regions can cause compensation above, resulting in a tightening of neck muscles. This compensation is due to the righting reflex, which occurs with altered posture when the brain tilts the neck and head to keep the eyes level with the horizon.
At Upper Cervical Chiropractic, we take the time to find the root cause of your neck muscle spasms so that you can enjoy lasting relief. Pain medications and moist heat therapy may provide some fleeting relief, but by addressing your spinal misalignment and correcting it, you can experience long-term recovery.
How to Treat Neck Muscle Spasms at Home
Many people turn to quick-fix remedies when neck muscle spasms strike, but while these may provide temporary relief, they don’t address the root cause of the issue.
- Over-the-counter pain medication: Drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce pain but don’t resolve underlying muscle tension or misalignment. Chronic use of these medications may lead to unwanted side effects.
- Ice therapy: Applying ice in the first 24-48 hours of a spasm can help reduce inflammation and numb pain.
- Heat therapy: Once inflammation subsides, heat helps increase blood flow, relax tight muscles, and improve mobility.
- Massage therapy: Massage can loosen muscle knots and provide relief, but the spasms and pain are likely to return without addressing why spasms keep happening.
The Upper Cervical Approach: Addressing the Root Cause
Instead of masking symptoms, Upper Cervical Chiropractic targets the structural cause of neck muscle spasms. The atlas (C1) vertebra plays a crucial role in supporting the head, maintaining balance, and protecting the brainstem. When misaligned, the body compensates by tightening neck muscles to keep the head upright, leading to chronic stiffness and spasms.
Through gentle, precise Upper Cervical adjustments, chiropractors restore proper atlas alignment, allowing the nervous system to function optimally and muscles to relax naturally. Although the Upper Cervical adjustment is administered in the neck region, it influences the alignment of the entire spine since the body’s postural control centers are located in the neck.
Unlike traditional chiropractic methods, Upper Cervical adjustments require no forceful twisting or cracking. By correcting misalignment at its source, this approach not only relieves immediate muscle tension but also prevents future episodes of neck spasms, helping patients regain comfort and mobility without relying on temporary fixes.
QSM3: A Modern Approach to Chiropractic Care
For those seeking a gentle, precise alternative to traditional chiropractic adjustments, the Quantum Spinal Mechanics³ (QSM3) approach offers an advanced solution. QSM3 is a specialized chiropractic method that is the basis of our practice here at Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth. Additional training and study is required to learn this technique, focusing on soft tissue (myofascial) release and full-body alignment rather than forceful spinal manipulations. These therapies are designed to bring the body back into balance naturally, without drugs or invasive surgeries. When in proper balance, the body is better equipped to heal itself.
Unlike traditional adjustments that involve twisting or cracking, QSM3 uses light, targeted pressure to correct misalignment and restore natural movement. This technique reduces muscle spasms, improves circulation, and enhances mobility by releasing built-up tension throughout the spine and nervous system. Posture measurements are obtained before and after care, verifying the correction. Often, x-rays are utilized as another objective measurement of correction and improved alignment. When the body is brought back into alignment, it no longer needs to be in a protective state of stress and strain. Inflammation is reduced, and the body can then resolve chronic issues through its natural ability to heal itself.
Why Choose Upper Cervical of Monmouth for Neck Muscle Spasms?
At Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, we specialize in precise, gentle spinal corrections designed to restore balance and allow your body to heal itself and reduce chronic neck tension. Our Upper Cervical and QSM3 approach focuses on treating the structural cause of muscle spasms, not just the symptoms. Patients consistently report improved mobility, fewer spasms, and better posture after treatment.
There’s no reason to suffer through recurring neck spasms when relief is within reach. Don’t wait for the pain to return. Schedule a free consultation today and take the first step toward long-term comfort and mobility.
Dr. Arbeitman
Dr. Arbeitman, a trailblazing figure in Upper Cervical Chiropractic, established Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, LLC in 2005. Dedicated to promoting holistic wellness, he has empowered countless individuals to embrace Upper Cervical Chiropractic care as an integral part of their health journey. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Logan College of Chiropractic and holding a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiological Sciences from the University of Maryland at College Park, Dr. Arbeitman is a licensed practitioner in New Jersey who has met the rigorous standards set by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Beyond his extensive educational achievements, he has earned multiple scholarships and accolades for his academic prowess and exemplary clinical performance. Dr. Arbeitman's holistic approach encompasses spinal and nervous system care, lifestyle guidance, fitness evaluation, and nutritional expertise, all founded on the belief that the doctor-patient relationship is paramount to the healing process.
