Common Causes of Neck Pain

The neck is the most mobile part of the spine, which also makes it one of the most vulnerable to everyday strain. When patients describe their neck pain to Dr. Gregory Martin, the causes almost always cluster into a few familiar patterns.

First is the screen pattern: hours of desk work, laptop use or phone scrolling with the head angled forward. Every inch of forward head position adds meaningful load, and the neck's supporting muscles end up holding that weight all day. By evening, they're done.

Second is the sleep pattern. An awkward sleeping position or a pillow that doesn't support the neck through the night can leave you waking up stiff, sometimes out of nowhere. Third is stress: jaw clenching, shoulders up by the ears and neck muscles that never fully let go, often on top of the screen pattern.

Finally, there's the injury pattern. Older whiplash-type forces from car accidents, sports impacts or falls can leave the neck with restrictions that quietly build up over years, showing up as recurring stiffness and often headaches.

If your neck pain follows one of these patterns and isn't improving, an evaluation is a sensible next step. Dr. Greg has practiced since 1996 and sees patients in Sparta, New Jersey. He'll assess how your neck moves, connect it to your habits, and tell you honestly what he finds.