Thankfully, most neck strains don’t take too long to heal, as long as you look after yourself. So it’s important to avoid exercise and any movement that may jar your neck and aggravate the injury. However, gentle neck exercises are recommended.

Folusha recommends using an ice pack wrapped in a cloth and “applying it to the area for up to 20 minutes, several times a day”. She also says that “icing can be alternated with heat”, so try taking warm showers and using heat pads. And, if the pain is ever particularly bad, painkillers like ibuprofen, paracetamol and gels that are specifically designed for muscular pain can be very effective.

Neck strain: how to treat a pulled neck muscle