The portion of the spine contained within the neck is referred to as the cervical spine. That's the site for injuries known as neck strain. Unlike the rest of the spine (thoracic, lumbar, and sacral), which is relatively well protected from injury because it is enclosed by the torso, the cervical spine is more vulnerable to injury. This portion of the spine is encased in a relatively small amount of muscles and ligaments. Yet its normal function requires extensive range of motion.

The neck contains many vital anatomic structures, the most critical being the airway, the spinal cord, and the blood vessels that supply the brain. By definition, neck strain injuries do not involve serious injury to any of these vital structures and also are not associated with fractures or dislocations of any of the bones of the cervical spine.

Significant injury to blood vessels and the spinal cord are also not part of the definition of a strain type of injury.

Orthopedists, doctors of the bones and joints, differentiate sprains from strains. Injuries of tissues that contract and move, such as muscles, tendons, and their attachments into bones, are termed strains (for example, tendonitis occurs when tendons are involved). Similar injuries to inert (or nonmoving) structures, such as ligaments, joint capsules, nerves, bursae, blood vessels, and cartilage, are termed sprains. Some people, however, use both terms interchangeably.

To be consistent here, the term strain will be used. Both strains and sprains of the neck may involve tears to ligaments covering the cervical vertebrae, the many muscles of the neck (which move the head), and many other associated structures. They may also result in injury to cervical nerves caused by stretching or compression.

The neck is an area where stability has been sacrificed for mobility, making it particularly vulnerable to injury. Because you can be injured in a number of different ways, a detailed medical and job history (including an analysis of work activity) is often needed to ascertain the likelihood of a severe injury. It also helps to predict how long your recovery will take and what your prognosis will be following an injury.