Wry neck is the common term used to refer to the condition known as Torticollis or Cervical Dystonia. It is a condition in which muscles of the neck are locked into a sustained involuntary contraction, and causes the neck to be painfully twisted and tilted, resulting in abnormal posturing of the neck. Repetitive jerking of the head may be present with spasms that can be intermittent, and most patients exhibit a lack of postural control.
The causes of wry neck are unknown most of the time, which is referred to as idiopathic torticollis, however, torticollis can be inherited and can also develop in the womb. This may happen when a baby’s head is in the wrong position. It can also occur due to damage to the muscles or blood supply to the neck, so anyone could develop wry neck after sustaining a muscular or nervous system injury. Another possible factor is having underlying medical conditions such as arthritis, infection or tumour; so do see your doctor to rule these out beforehand.
Symptoms of wry neck may begin slowly, but may also worsen over time. The most common symptoms include:
- Inability to move head normally
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Headaches
- One shoulder being higher than the other
- Swollen or tight neck muscles
- Chin tilting to one side, head to the other
In some cases, wry neck is not serious and goes away on its own within days or weeks. Chronic wry neck can cause debilitating pain and difficulty performing daily tasks, but fortunately, there are treatments available to relieve the pain and stiffness. Treatment is most successful and lasting when started early, and this is especially true for children.
Treatment for wry neck can include:
- Rest
- Heat therapy
- Soft tissue massage
- Gentle joint mobilisations
- Myofascial dry needling
- Stretching exercises
- Postural taping
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