neck stiffness
{{Short description|Stiffness of the neck}}
File:Neck stiffness.jpg epidemic of 1911 and 1912]]
Neck stiffness, stiff neck and nuchal rigidity are terms often used interchangeably to describe the medical condition when one experiences discomfort or pain when trying to turn, move, or flex the neck. Possible causes include muscle strain or sprain, cervical spine disorder, meningitis, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.{{Cite web |title=Neck pain: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia |url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003025.htm |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=medlineplus.gov |language=en |archive-date=2016-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705123641/https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003025.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2017-10-19 |title=Neck pain |url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/neck-pain-and-stiff-neck/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=nhs.uk |language=en |archive-date=2017-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009091831/http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Neck-pain/Pages/Introduction.aspx |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Neck Pain Relief, Treatment, Home Remedies, and Causes |url=https://www.medicinenet.com/neck_pain/article.htm |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=MedicineNet |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title=What Is Neck Pain? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention |url=https://www.everydayhealth.com/neck-pain/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=EverydayHealth.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-07-20 |title=Nuchal rigidity - RightDiagnosis.com |url=http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/sym/nuchal_rigidity.htm |access-date=2024-08-28 |website= |archive-date=2018-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720104127/http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/sym/nuchal_rigidity.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{Cite web |title=Hemorrhagic Stroke Clinical Presentation: History, Physical Examination |url=https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1916662-clinical?form=fpf |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=emedicine.medscape.com}}
Nuchal rigidity due to irritation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord is one of the main symptoms of meningitis.