Neck Sprain (गर्दन का मोच) एक आम musculoskeletal injury है जिसमें neck ligaments (गर्दन के लिगामेंट्स) overstretched या partially torn हो जाते हैं।
- यह चोट आमतौर पर sudden movement, accident या overuse के कारण होती है।
- Neck sprain pain, stiffness और reduced mobility का कारण बन सकता है।
- Most cases में conservative treatment से recovery possible है।
Neck Sprain क्या है (What is Neck Sprain)
- Injury to ligaments of the cervical spine
- Can result from hyperextension, hyperflexion, or rotation
- Different from neck strain, जो muscle involvement में होता है
- Severity ranges from mild stretching to partial/complete ligament tear
Neck Sprain कारण (Causes of Neck Sprain)
1. Trauma / Accidents
- Road traffic accidents (whiplash injury)
- Sports injuries (contact sports, gymnastics)
- Falls
2. Poor Posture / Overuse
- Long hours of computer or mobile use
- Sleeping in awkward positions
3. Sudden Movements
- Quick head rotation or jerking
- Lifting heavy objects improperly
4. Degenerative Changes
- Osteoarthritis or cervical spondylosis can predispose ligaments to injury
Neck Sprain लक्षण (Symptoms of Neck Sprain)
- Neck pain and tenderness
- Stiffness, limited range of motion
- Muscle spasms around neck and shoulders
- Headache, sometimes radiating to upper back
- Swelling or bruising (rare)
- Severe cases: numbness or tingling in arms (if nerve involvement)
Symptoms usually appear immediately after injury, but mild cases may present later।
Neck Sprain कैसे पहचाने (Diagnosis of Neck Sprain)
- Physical Examination – check for tenderness, swelling, and range of motion
- Medical History – trauma, sudden movement, posture issues
- Imaging
- X-ray – rule out fractures
- MRI – detect ligament tears or soft tissue damage
- CT scan – for severe trauma
- Neurological Examination – if numbness, tingling, or weakness is present
Proper diagnosis differentiates sprain from strain or fracture।
Neck Sprain इलाज (Treatment of Neck Sprain)
1. Rest and Immobilization
- Short-term use of soft cervical collar
- Avoid heavy activity and sudden neck movements
2. Pain Relief
- NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen) for pain and inflammation
- Ice packs in initial 24–48 hours, then heat packs for muscle relaxation
3. Physiotherapy / Exercises
- Gentle neck stretches and strengthening exercises
- Posture correction and ergonomic adjustments
4. Severe Cases
- Ligament tear or instability may require surgical intervention
- Rarely, long-term bracing
5. Lifestyle and Supportive Care
- Maintain proper posture
- Avoid heavy lifting
- Ergonomic work setup
Most mild to moderate cases recover within 2–6 weeks with conservative treatment।
रोकथाम (Prevention)
- Maintain good posture while sitting or using devices
- Use ergonomic chairs and neck support
- Avoid sudden jerking movements
- Warm-up before sports or physical activity
- Regular neck and shoulder exercises
सावधानियाँ (Precautions)
- Avoid high-impact activities until fully recovered
- Do not ignore numbness, tingling, or severe pain
- Follow physiotherapist’s guidance for exercises
- Properly adjust sleeping positions and pillows
FAQs (अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न)
Q1. Neck sprain में कितनी जल्दी recovery होती है?
Mild cases 1–2 weeks में improve होते हैं, moderate cases 4–6 weeks ले सकते हैं।
Q2. क्या यह permanent damage कर सकता है?
Usually नहीं, अगर timely treatment और physiotherapy की जाए। Severe ligament tears rare cases में long-term instability दे सकते हैं।
Q3. क्या neck sprain और strain में अंतर है?
Sprain – ligament injury; Strain – muscle or tendon injury।
Q4. क्या physiotherapy जरूरी है?
हाँ, exercises और posture correction recovery और recurrence prevention में मदद करते हैं।
निष्कर्ष (Conclusion)
Neck Sprain (गर्दन का मोच) आम लेकिन preventable musculoskeletal injury है।
Early rest, pain management, physiotherapy और posture correction से recovery जल्दी और सुरक्षित होती है।
अगर किसी को severe neck pain, numbness, or limited motion दिखाई दे, तो तुरंत orthopedic specialist या physiotherapist से consultation करना चाहिए।