Identifying and Treating the Causes of Neck Pain

Chronic neck pain is a common and often disabling problem. It can describe pain in the neck region alone or include related disorders of radiculopathy or myelopathy. This review of the literature is aimed at the practicing primary care provider, who is diagnosing and managing non-traumatic neck pain in the clinic. It includes an anatomic review, definition of related disorders, differential diagnosis, and discussion of common diagnostic uncertainty for mechanical neck pain. Important history and physical examination techniques, the role of imaging, and the available literature on conservative and invasive treatment options are reviewed.