Table of contents
Expand All Topics
Neck pain
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of neck pain are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the American Psychological Association (APA 2024), the United States Department of Defense (DoD/VA 2024), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP 2021,2020), the American College of Physicians (ACP/AAFP 2020), the American College of Radiology (ACR 2019), the American ...
Show more
Diagnostic investigations
Initial assessment
As per AAFP 2020 guidelines:
Evaluate and treat urgently any signs and symptoms of myelopathy, including lower extremity weakness, balance problems, and bowel and bladder irregularities.
B
Assess patients with neck pain for comorbidities, as underlying inflammatory or rheumatologic conditions can increase the risk of cervical spine injury.
B
More topics in this section
Diagnostic imaging
Electrodiagnostic testing
Medical management
NSAIDs: as per AAFP/ACP 2020 guidelines, offer topical NSAIDs with or without menthol gel as first-line therapy to reduce or relieve symptoms, including pain, and to improve physical function in patients with acute pain from non-low back, musculoskeletal injuries.
B
Show 2 more
More topics in this section
Opioids
Muscle relaxants
Nonpharmacologic interventions
Physical therapy, recent neck pain: as per CCA 2016 guidelines, consider offering either range-of-motion home exercises, medication, or multimodal manual therapy to reduce pain and disability in patients with recent (< 3 months) grade I-II neck pain.
C
Show 2 more
More topics in this section
Physical therapy (persistent neck pain)
Physical therapy (neck pain with headache)
Physical therapy (neck pain with radiating pain)
Physical therapy (neck pain with mobility deficits)
Physical therapy (neck pain with coordination impairment)
Acupuncture and acupressure