[Examination of neck pain in adults]

An accurate diagnosis is not obtained for most patients suffering from neck symptoms. Benign nonspecific pain is most common. Knowledge of functional anatomy and neuroanatomy forms the basis of clinical examination. Anamnesis and clinical examination are utilized to explore the need for further investigation and therapy. No particular instrumental investigations are needed in the exploration of the pain, unless the symptoms and clinical findings indicate any severe or specific illness. In clinical work it is practical to divide neck pain into four groups: a severe or specific illness, nerve root entrapment, nonspecific neck pain and whiplash injury.