Torticollis
Glossary of Health Einstein
ICD 10 - M436
- Symptom
What is torticollis?
The term torticollis means 'twisted neck'. The neck (cervical spine) becomes painful due to an involuntary contraction of the muscles on one side, causing the neck to be tilted, rotated, and slightly flexed.
Causes
The cause of acute torticollis is often unknown.
Torticollis can occur in people who have never had previous cervical symptoms. It may be related to improper neck posture while sitting or lying down; carrying/lifting heavy objects in an unbalanced manner (e.g., carrying a backpack, bag, or briefcase on one side of the body).
It can also result from daily life stress, poor posture, psychological stress, or poor sleep habits. In many cases, people go to bed feeling fine and wake up with neck pain that worsens throughout the day.
Main Symptoms
Neck pain with difficulty moving to one side. Usually, the pain is on one side of the neck with muscle stiffness that limits movement and worsens the pain when trying to straighten the neck.
The pain may radiate to the back, shoulder, or head. The muscles on the affected side are usually tense and sore.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of acute torticollis is made based on typical symptoms and a neck examination by a doctor. The clinical examination can confirm the diagnosis and rule out rarer causes of torticollis.
Imaging tests such as X-rays are not necessary in most cases, except when the doctor suspects another cause.
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce pain and muscle spasm in the cervical region. Typically, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants are used. In some cases, warm compresses can be applied, and sometimes the use of a foam collar can help.
Prevention
Improving posture during daily activities is a good way to prevent torticollis. Avoid sleeping in armchairs or sofas; proper positioning of computers; not using the phone by holding it between the shoulder and ear can also reduce the chances of torticollis occurring.
However, sometimes factors beyond our control, such as daily stress and poor sleep postures, are enough to trigger torticollis.
Incidence
Neck pain affects adults of all ages and both sexes almost equally. It is estimated that 66% of adults experience neck pain at some point in their lives.