Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons treating a Cervical Sprain

CERVICAL SPRAIN

A cervical sprain is when ligaments in your child’s neck are overstretched. Typically, sprains take longer to heal. They can take as little as 4 to 6 weeks, but can also linger for up to 3 months. 

If your child needs surgery or casting, our Fracture Care Clinic opens every day and you do not need an appointment. Surgery rooms get scheduled every morning, so your child receives the care and attention they need right away.

Cervical Sprain 

Cervical SprainIf your child has a sharp neck pain, a cervical sprain or strain could cause it. While both cervical spine injuries cause pain and many of the same symptoms, the underlying cause is different. Nevertheless, a cervical sprain is an injury to the ligaments in the cervical spine, whereas a cervical strain is an injury to the muscles or tendons in the same area. The cervical spine is made up of the first seven vertebrae in the spine, beginning at the base of the skull and ending at the thoracic spine. Because it allows your child to turn their  head in a variety of directions, your child’s cervical spine is a highly flexible segment of the spine. Also, this spinal region contains important muscles that support the spine as well as spinal nerves that branch off to innervate the rest of the body.

A cervical sprain is neck pain caused by extreme neck movements, such as whiplash from a car accident or fall. In addition, the cervical spine is located inside the neck and is made up of seven vertebrae as well as an intricate system of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Furthermore, a ligament is a strong connective tissue that connects bones and provides stability. Likewise, a tendon is a connective tissue that connects bones and muscles.

Cervical Sprain Symptoms

If someone has had a cervical neck sprain, they may experience a number of symptoms. Obviously, everyone should keep in mind that some people may experience more than one of these symptoms, while others may only have one. If these symptoms appear following a traumatic accident, people should seek medical attention. Therefore, the most common symptom of a cervical sprain is pain with a limited range of motion. Lastly, other symptoms of neck sprains or strains are as follows:

  • Muscle spasms or tightness.
  • Inability to carry out daily tasks.
  • Weakness, numbness, or tingling caused by nerve irritation or damage.
  • The tenseness in the neck.
  • Issues with chewing, swallowing, or breathing.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What causes Cervical Sprain?

A cervical sprain typically occurs when the neck is suddenly jolted or moved beyond its normal range of motion, often due to a traumatic event like a car accident, sports injury, or a fall. The rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck, known as whiplash, can strain or damage the soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck.

What are the common symptoms of Cervical Sprain?
    • Symptoms of a cervical sprain can vary in severity but often include:
      • Neck pain and stiffness
      • Headaches, often originating from the base of the skull
      • Shoulder pain
      • Pain or tingling in the arms or hands
      • Limited range of motion in the neck
      • Muscle spasms in the neck and upper back
      • Dizziness or fatigue
      • Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
How is Cervical Sprain treated?

Treatment for a cervical sprain typically involves a combination of conservative measures to alleviate symptoms and promote healing. Common treatment approaches include:

  • Rest: Give the neck time to heal by avoiding activities that worsen the pain.
  • Ice and Heat: Applying ice in the first 24-48 hours can help reduce swelling, followed by heat to relax muscles.
  • Pain Medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may provide relief.
  • Neck Brace or Collar: In some cases, a healthcare provider may recommend a soft collar to support the neck.
  • Physical Therapy: Exercises and stretches prescribed by a physical therapist can help improve neck strength and flexibility.
  • Lifestyle Modifications: Avoiding activities that strain the neck, maintaining good posture, and using ergonomic equipment can prevent further injury.
  • Massage and Other Therapies: Some individuals find relief through massage, chiropractic care, or acupuncture.

When it comes to children and their medical conditions, parents need to think of the very best — Medical city Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists.

Cervical Sprain Causes

A strained or sprained neck can result from any situation or activity that strains the cervical spine muscles. Similarly, these aching neck ailments have a variety of causes, including:

  • A sports-related injury.
  • Extensive repetitive lifting.
  • Ineffective exercise and training methods.
  • An unexpected injury or trauma to the spine.
  • Improper sitting posture.
  • Incorrect sleeping positions.
  • Weakening of back muscles.

Cervical Sprain Diagnosis

A physical exam follows after the doctor has taken a thorough history and classified the mechanism of the accident and the symptoms that have appeared.

  • Measuring the range of motion of the neck, both up and down and side to side.
  • Flexing and extending the arms, wrists, and fingers to see if the pain level changes.
  • Assessing the shoulder range of motion.
  • Checking for signs of point tenderness by pressing along the shoulders, arms, back, neck, and head.
  • Examining the sensations along the shoulders, arms, and back for numbness or tingling.
  • Evaluating the tone and strength of the various upper-body muscle groups.

Your child’s movement, balance, and strength will be evaluated by one of our board-certified pediatric orthopedic doctors. Also, an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI may reveal the injury. Meanwhile, you child may be given contrast liquid to help the neck stand out in photographs. Tell your doctor if your child has ever had an allergic reaction to contrast liquid. Bring nothing metal into the MRI room as it can cause problems. Contact your physician if your child has any metal in or on his or her body.

Cervical Sprain Treatment

Joint mobilization, deep tissue mobilization, and muscular retraining techniques have been shown to be highly effective treatments for this condition. Thus, the assessment and treatment of the underlying cause of this condition, such as poor sleeping habits, neck weakness, postural stresses, and associated areas of stiffness, is essential for long-term relief and reduced re-injury. Overall, patient education is a critical component of this condition. For each patient’s specific problem, an individualized exercise program is created, often focusing on the deep neck muscles and the postural muscles of the shoulders and shoulder blades.

Physical Therapists are trained to provide hands-on care for pain relief and to help your child move his or her neck more freely. Altogether, stretching the muscles and joints of the neck and upper back, performing soft tissue work on tender muscles or muscles in spasm, or assisting the range of motion of the neck with specific joint mobilizations for specific movements are all examples of what the physical therapist might do. Overall, stretching, neck, upper back, and arm strengthening, motor control or stabilization exercises, or aerobic exercise may be combined with hands-on treatments. All exercise programs will be tailor-made to your child’s specific needs and goals.

Activity modification

Resting the neck and/or avoiding strenuous activities for a few days can allow the muscle or tendon to begin healing and feeling better. Actually, trying to push through the pain without reducing activity levels may worsen the injury and prolong the pain.

Rest

The most important aspect of treating this injury is rest as the muscles and tendons require time to heal. However, this does not imply that the neck must be immobilized. Likewise, people should avoid stressful motions for a short period of time following an injury.

Collar

A person with a severe cervical sprain may need to wear a soft collar to protect their neck. Basically, this collar can provide much-needed head support while reducing stress on the tendons and ligaments. Hence, this will allow them to heal.

NSAIDs

Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce swelling, pain, and fever. In addition, it is possible to get this drug with or without a prescription from a physician. If your child takes blood thinners, always check with your doctor to see if NSAIDs are safe. Always read the medication label and follow the directions exactly. In addition, muscle relaxants aid in the reduction of pain and muscle spasms. Accordingly, your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever and when and how your child should take them. Acetaminophen is found in some prescription pain relievers. Parents should not give this child acetaminophen-containing medications without first consulting their healthcare provider.

Tens Machines

TENS machines are electronic pain-relief devices that reduce neck pain and the need for pain medications.

Massage

Massage is always relaxing, and it helps with muscle relaxation. Generally, neck massage is beneficial when there are muscle spasms or chronic muscle tension. Moreover, regular remedial massage is also an effective strategy for preventing neck pain. Furthermore, most people recover from a cervical sprain in about a month and some people may notice their cervical spine straightening. Conversely, some people could go through significant difficulties.

Ice and/or heat therapy

Ice should be applied within the first 48 hours of an injury to help reduce swelling. Heat or ice may be applied after 48 hours, depending on the patient’s preference. Heat can aid in blood circulation and the delivery of healing nutrients to damaged tissues. To avoid skin damage, a layer should be kept between the skin and the hot/cold source, and applications should be limited to 10 to 20 minutes with rest periods in between.

Physical therapy

A physical therapist, physiatrist, or other trained medical professional may create a physical therapy program that focuses on muscles in the neck and elsewhere that need to become stronger and more flexible. Typically, a physical therapy program begins with instructions on how to perform exercises and stretches. After gradually moving ahead through the process over a few weeks or months, the patient continues the program on his or her own at home.

Manual manipulation

A trained medical professional may perform manual adjustments to the cervical spine (and lower spine) to realign joints, improving the range of motion in the neck, and reducing pain.

Cervical Sprain Complications

Although many people who suffer a cervical sprain recover completely, others may experience serious complications. Among these issues are:

Chronic Pain

One of the most severe effects is chronic discomfort. Additionally, a chronic cervical sprain can pull the nerve roots from the cervical spine itself. When this happens, people can develop chronic shooting pains in their back, shoulders, and arms.

Loss of Motor Function

Another issue that may arise is the loss of motor function. When people who have had their nerves severely damaged, they may experience fatigue and weakness in their arms and shoulders. Also, this could become a permanent problem, making it difficult to return to work or school. When an injury, such as a cervical or lumbar strain, causes complications, it is important to consult a doctor.

Why Choose Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists

The very first reason to choose Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists for your child is because we are experts in children’s health.  In as much as there is a big difference between a Cervical Sprain and a Strain, parents should want their child treated for the exact cause and we can deliver that treatment.  We do it all the time in our ArlingtonDallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, and McKinney, TX offices.  To obtain the very best diagnosis and treatment, we invite parents to give us a call to make an appointment for their child for any pain coming from their child’s neck.

____________________

Footnote:

Physiopedia: Cervical Sprain

 

Call 214-556-0590 to make an appointment.

Comprehensive services for children from birth through adolescence at five convenient locations: Arlington, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco and McKinney.