A stiff neck typically is the result of muscles weakening over time from poor posture or misuse, and your body has a protective spasm. Simple remedies include: Use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat; take over-the-counter pain relievers; keep moving, but avoid jerking or painful activities; gently stretch the neck muscles by doing slow range-of-motion exercises, up and down, side to side, and from ear to ear; gently massage; sleeping on a firm mattress without a pillow or with a special neck pillow; using a soft neck collar for a short period of time. Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/
