Military Neck Causes and Treatments

A curve in the neck is normal, but a condition known as military neck (cervical kyphosis) also involves loss of the natural curve. Other names for losing your neck's natural curve include:

• Flat neck syndrome
• Reversed neck curve (when your neck curves in the opposite direction)

This condition can occur because of an injury or because your neck has been aligned badly for a long time. If your neck loses its curve, it can affect the posture of your whole body.

This article explains why your neck and spine curve. It talks about what can cause a change in the curvature of your neck, how to treat it, and when you should see a healthcare provider.

What Is Military Neck?

Military neck occurs when the section of your spine that's in your neck (the cervical spine) loses some or all of its backward curve. It curves more toward the front than it should.

This can stretch your paraspinal muscles, which help you lean, bend, and twist your back. It can also affect your suboccipital muscles, which help you turn your neck.

When your neck loses its curve, the muscles at the front of your neck can't be as flexible. Other muscles might be overstretched.

Military Neck Symptoms

Military neck causes a loss of the kyphotic (backward) curves and typically leads to symptoms. These symptoms can become serious, including problems breathing or swallowing. They also may include:

• Stiffness and pain in your neck or back
• Muscle weakness and limited range of motion
• Pain or tingling in fingers or toes
• Headaches
• Changes to the shape of your spine
  

Complications

If cervical kyphosis affects the way other parts of the spine curve, a problem known as military back can occur. This is when the upper back is unusually flat. This condition can compress the spine and cause the bones to be worn away.

In severe cases, military neck can lead to paralysis, or the loss of your ability to move. It can also cause you to lose control of your bladder and bowel movements.

Causes of Cervical Kyphosis

Problems with your posture often cause this condition. Some of the other causes of military neck include:

• Degenerative disc disease, where parts of your spine wear away over time. This can be due to factors including repetitive injury, smoking, or even genetic predisposition.
• Ankylosing spondylitis, a progressive type of spinal arthritis
• Birth (congenital) defects
• Spine surgery, such as laminectomy to relieve spinal cord pressure (often in kids)
• Neck injury or trauma (including radiation damage due to cancer treatment)
• Tumors, systemic disease, or infection (i.e., tuberculosis spondylitis)

Complications

If cervical kyphosis isn't treated, it may cause more severe problems with your movement, posture, vision, and the health of your spine.

Risk of Injury

Military neck can often place too much stress on the nuchal ligament. That's the ligament that limits how far forward you can tilt your head. It is located at the back of your neck, starting at the back of the skull, and extends to the last bone in the cervical spine.

If you have military neck, you may be more likely to have an injury. When you can't move as freely, your spine can't absorb shocks as well. Because this condition isn't always painful, you may not be aware of your limitations until an injury actually occurs.

Spine Damage

Sometimes military neck can even injure the spinal cord itself. If your spine is injured this way, you might notice these symptoms:

• Pain and pressure in the neck
• Numbness or tingling at the base of the skull
• Double vision
• Difficulty swallowing

Dropped Head Syndrome

If cervical kyphosis isn't treated, it can weaken your neck muscles. In some cases, the neck muscles do not hold up your head properly. Your chin tips down to your chest.

This condition is sometimes called dropped head syndrome because of the forward slump of your head. When your head drops forward, it's not easy to see straight ahead.

Diagnosing Military Neck

To find out if you have cervical kyphosis, your healthcare provider will examine your posture, check your balance, and take a look at your ability to move freely.

You might also be asked about whether you had any injuries or surgeries in the past and when you first noticed the problem.

Imaging, such as an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan, may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

Cervical Kyphosis Treatment

Military neck can often be treated successfully using a range of options.

Physical therapy

A physical therapist can help you do exercises to correct your posture, strengthen your muscles, and restore some of the curve to your cervical spine.

One exercise that's often prescribed is the cervical retraction exercise. It involves gently tucking your chin down and pulling your neck back in a diagonal movement. It should feel as though you're stretching your neck toward the ceiling in back of you.

Traction

A physical therapist or other healthcare provider can also treat your neck with traction. Traction uses a neck brace, sling, or other device to lift your neck so there's more space between the bones in your spine. That can take pressure off the nerves, too.

Medication

Your healthcare provider may want to treat pain with medications, including over-the-counter drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like (Advil) ibuprofen or (Aleve) naproxen.

They may also want to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to treat underlying causes. Celebrex (celecoxib), for example, is a prescription NSAID that can be used to treat ankylosing spondylitis. Steroid treatment also may be a pain relief option.

Surgery

If physical therapy and traction haven't worked, surgery might be needed if your spine or nerves are being compressed. Surgery's aim is to take the pressure off your spine and nerves, stop your pain, and help you stand, move, and look ahead normally.

To do that, a surgeon might join some of the small bones in your neck with small screws or plates (vertebral fusion).

Another option might be to remove a small section of bone in your neck (osteotomy).

Massage

Massage therapy won't cure military neck. Studies have shown, however, that it can bring you some short-term relief from neck pain. Thus, it might be a good add-on therapy while you're taking steps to resolve the problem.

Summary

The curve in your neck is normal and naturally moves forward. But if you're injured or your neck is not aligned properly, that natural curve can flatten out. In some cases, it can even curve in the opposite direction.

If your neck stays that way, it's known as flat neck syndrome or military neck. It can lead to overstretched muscles and ligaments along the whole length of your back and neck.

Cervical kyphosis can also cause your spine to become compressed, which can wear away parts of your spine. In severe cases, military neck can damage your spine.

Military neck doesn't always hurt. Even so, it's important to see what's causing it so you can prevent it from getting worse. Physical therapy, traction, massage, medication, and surgery are options to help correct the curve.