Wry neck is also known as torticollis. It is a painful condition in which the top of the head usually tilts to one side while the chin rotates to the opposite side. Torticollis can have several causes from infection (cold, flu, or otitis media) to sleeping in a draft. However, the cause is usually unknown (idiopathic).
Torticollis
In typical cases, torticollis may resolve itself within 4-6 weeks. With chiropractic care, cervical function can return to a normal state much faster within a week. Chiropractic treatment for wry neck often includes stretching. Manual cervical traction, spinal mobilization, and myofascial release techniques help to restore range of motion and faulty posture. Once motion has begun to restore, a chiropractor may utilize spinal manipulation, which often hastens the recovery rate of torticollis. Chiropractors also use physical therapy modalities and/or provide instruction on home-based exercises and other self-management strategies.
Congenital
Another type of torticollis is congenital torticollis. When an infant is born with torticollis, they either develop it in utero or during birth. Current guidelines support prompt treatment for congenital torticollis vs. a wait-and-see approach. Infants with gentle manual therapy approaches at one month of age have higher success rates. At six months or older, success rates are lower when substantial care was needed to restore full range of motion.
Dystonia
A more serious type of torticollis is called cervical dystonia or spasmodic torticollis. It’s characterized by involuntary contraction of muscles in the neck that twist the head in a variety of directions. Cervical dystonia can occur at any age. It’s more common among middle-aged women. There is no known cure for the condition. Although, there are case studies showing that cervical dystonia may respond to chiropractic treatment. In one case study, a 59-year-old woman has an eleven-year history of cervical dystonia. She experienced dramatic improvement in function from 3/10 to 9/10 on a scale of 0 to 10. Her treatment regimen includes cervical spinal manipulation, reflex therapy, eye exercises, and vibration therapy.
