The movement of a body part in the posterior direction, i.e. backwards. (Also movement of a protracted body part back to the anatomical position.) Uncrossing arms and allowing them to rest at either side of the body; retraction of clavicles.
However, stiff neck is also a symptom of meningitis (along with headache and fever). Neck stiffness may also develop as a reaction and result of muscle spasm in various conditions that cause neck pain, including traumatic injuries. Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 3/30/2015.
Stiff Neck Causes and Symptoms. The most common causes of a stiff neck include, but are not limited to, the following: Muscle Strain or Sprain. By far the most common cause of a stiff neck is a muscle sprain or muscle strain, particularly to the levator scapula muscle.Located at the back and side of the neck, the levator scapula muscle connects the cervical spine (the neck) with the shoulder.ther infections can also cause stiff neck symptoms, such as meningococcal disease, an infection in the cervical spine. Any time a stiff neck is accompanied by a fever, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention to check for these possibilities.