A "muscle strain" of the neck is a common diagnosis given when a patient presents a stiff neck. In some cases, this may represent a true "muscle strain", or "pulled muscle" involving the muscles around the spine of the neck. However, muscle spasm is a common symptom that can result when other areas of the neck are injured. Problems that are commonly referred to as a muscle strain may also involve injury of other soft tissues of the neck including: the disc, the ligaments around the spinal segment, and the muscles. Injury to any, or all, of these structures may cause similar symptoms.