A car crash or upper-body injury can cause significant pain that could point to a sprained muscle or ligament in the neck.

Here are common symptoms, provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Pain at or near the back of the neck that feels worse when you move.
• Pain that gets more intense about a day after an injury, rather than immediately after.
• Pain and muscle spasms in the upper shoulder.
• A headache in the back of the head, or an inability to fully turn the head.
• A sore throat, arm or hand weakness, or fatigue or irritability.
• Trouble sleeping and concentrating.

Source: HealthDay