Surfer's Neck

Factors that may contribute to neck pain:

(1) trauma to the neck (from falls, contact with board or reef)

(2) surfing stance (with torso flexed forward and neck extended)

(3) prone paddling (with neck raised and extended)

Contributory factors:

(1) degeneration of the cervical intervertebral discs

(2) vertebral osteophytes in the cervical spine

(3) other sources of trauma (whiplash, etc)

Symptoms may include:

(1) neck pain

(2) headaches

(3) shoulder pain

(4) back pain

(5) numbness or pins and needle feeling in hands and arms

(6) stiffness of the neck and shoulders

(7) dizziness