Physical activity for acute nonspecific neck pain

Encourage patients with acute nonspecific neck pain to stay active and avoid protecting their neck from movement (fear-avoidance behaviour). Advise them to pace activities, and resume usual activities in a graded manner. Reassure them that, although some pain with activity is likely, this does not imply damage to the spine (ie ‘hurt does not mean harm’). Simple analgesia may help them in staying active.

Neck exercises are commonly recommended for acute nonspecific neck pain and may be of some benefit; however, most patients recover rapidly with minimal intervention.