Stiffness of the neck caused by spasm of the muscles in the neck and spine. Neck rigidity is an important symptom of meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). Neck stiffness can also be caused by injuries such as whiplash.
Pronounced inflexibility of the neck results from muscle spasms affecting the neck and spine. Neck rigidity serves as a significant clinical indicator of meningitis, which involves inflammation of the membranes encasing the brain and spinal cord. In severe cases, neck rigidity could lead to the head arching backward, particularly noticeable in infants.