Cervical arthritis, also known as Cervical spondylosis, is an osteoarthritic condition affecting the upper spine. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis where the cartilage in joints begins to wear away because of an accident or because of the natural aging process. In cervical spine arthritis, the vertebrae in the neck, known anatomically as the cervical vertebrae, begin to degenerate, accompanied by degeneration in the flexible disks of shock-absorbing cartilage that fit between them. These changes gradually narrow the space in the vertebra called the foramen. This narrowing causes compression on the nerves leading from the spinal cord in the neck. The nerves become inflamed, producing neck pain that may radiate to the arms.

Cervical arthritis tends to begin between the ages of 30 and 50 as part of the normal aging process; like all arthritic conditions, it may grow worse over time. Nearly everyone over the age of 50 experiences some wear and tear in the cervical spine, but not everyone develops symptoms of cervical spine arthritis. Once the cervical vertebrae and their disks begin to degenerate, a minor injury to the spine (such as that caused by a fall or sudden twist) may provoke symptoms. Cervical spondylosis may also begin earlier in life, perhaps as the result of a back injury, such as those experienced while playing football or falling from a horse.

While cervical spondylosis tends to affect men more often than women, its symptoms may be similar to those produced by two conditions seen more frequently in women: rheumatoid arthritis (a systemic disorder affecting the synovial fluid in the joints), and osteoporosis (a condition in which many of the bones in the skeleton are weakened and become brittle).