Poor posture, obesity, emotional stress, accidents -- there are many
ways to end up with "a pain in the neck."
  Because of its great mobility and the various functions it performs,
the neck is extremely susceptible to injury. In fact, it is second only to
the lower back as a source of pain.

Consisting of seven vertebrae, 32 complex muscles, eight major nerves
and four major arteries, the neck represents the lifeline from the head to
our outermost extremities. Interestingly, it also supports more weight for
its size than any other part of the body, a notion that escapes most of us
until we actually experience an injury.
  The neck has various ways of protesting abuse and overuse.  Often,
pain can be felt not only in the neck, but in the face, arms, head and shoulders as well.  Common symptoms include a tingling or numbness
in the fingers, frequent headaches at the back of the head, dizziness
and /or nausea.  Of course, any symptoms that persist should send you directly to a doctor.
  Most of us have at one time or another suffered from a stiff neck. Because
it moves more than any other part of the spinal column, the neck reacts
more readily to both major and minor discomforts.  Actually, there is
nothing you can do that doesn't  require movement of the neck.  Think
about it for a minute.

                                        MANY CAUSES

  Leading the list of causes of neck problems are sports-related injuries.
It is important to note here that most of these are caused during weekend
recreational activities.  Infinitely more damage is done by so-called week-
end warriors than by professional athletes.
  Work-related accidents run a close second in the injury category, and
this is one reason why insurance companies are always pulling out their
hair.  The major reason for work-related neck and back injuries is sloppy
housekeeping.  Hazardous areas should always be well-marked, and all
spills and splashes should be removed from the floor immediately.
  Sprains occur when the neck is forced to move past its normal range
of motion. The common term for this type of injury is "whiplash."   A
popular misconception is that whiplash is an auto-related injury. False!
Anytime the body is suddenly stopped by force or a blow, either forward
or backward, it can result in hyper-extension [from the rear] or hyper-
flexion [from the front] of the neck.  This type of injury may not cause
discomfort until several hours later.