Acute torticollis, also referred to as wry neck, is a condition where a patient develops neck pain and stiffness, which is often accompanied by spasm of surrounding neck muscles. This causes pain and an inability to turn the neck through full range of motion. It is called acute, because the onset is usually very sudden.
This is a very common condition and can cause quite severe pain with simple movements. Treatment is usually very successful in a short period of time.
2 main causes for acute torticollis:
• Locked facet joint (facet wry neck)
• Cervical disc injury
What is a facet wry neck?
Facet joints are located at the back of the spinal column. They allow, guide and limit movement of the neck. Sometimes these joints become stiff/locked through trauma/arthritis or just get stuck at extreme movement of the head.
A person usually reports waking up with a stiff neck. It could be due to a restless nigh, uncomfortable pillow or sudden fast movement when waking up. Acute facet wry neck is more common in the younger population.
Signs and symptoms:
• Pain - mostly in middle or side of the neck that is affected. Has a sudden onset
• Decreased range of motion - the neck might be fixed in an abnormal position (mostly bent toward painful side with chin rotated away from pain)
• All movements aggravate pain
• Muscle spasms - this causes further restricted range of motion
Treatment:
After the physiotherapy assessment, once it has been determined that you suffer from acute torticollis caused by a facet joint, the physiotherapist will do low risk joint treatment techniques and soft tissue therapy to restore normal facet joint movement and function.
Acute torticollis can almost always be immediately unlocked, but with some residual muscle spasms and swelling in the area due to trauma. After acute torticollis it is important to normalise neck muscles and joint function. Your physiotherapist will assist with appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises for the neck to avoid any recurrence.
Cervical disc injury leading to tortilcollis will be discussed in the next post
Reference: https://physioworks.com.au/injuries-conditions-1/acute-wry-neck:
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Posted by: Ilse van Vuuren
