Wry Neck

What is wry neck?

Wry neck, also known as stiff neck or torticollis is a condition where there’s a spasm and contractures on the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles located in the neck area. The patient experiences neck pain and inability to turn his head on one side. There are possible causes of wry neck. It can be:

Congenital wry neck
Wry neck is acquired and developed at birth/infancy. This may be due to improper handling of delivery or improper positioning when still inside the mother’s womb. This type of wry neck can be corrected through physiotherapy in most cases. Physiotherapy includes proper stretching and strengthening of the neck muscles, as well as appropriate rotating and tilting of the neck.

Acquired wry neck

The acute wry neck can be obtained by individuals at any walks of life. It is usually painful and possible due to the following factors:

  • Improper sleep posture
  • Spasm in the neck muscles
  • Extreme and sudden turning of head
  • Injury
  • Poor posture when lifting heavy objects
  • Possible result from viral/bacterial infection

There are two types of wry neck:

1. Discogenic wry neck
- Usually happen in older individuals, but it can occur at any ages.
- May experience pain in the cervical area and usually radiates to the thoracic area of the spine.
- May be due to the awkward position during sleep

2. Apophyseal wry neck
- Usually happen in younger adults
- May experience sharp pain due to sudden or extreme head movement.

There are general signs and symptoms of wry neck:

wry neck 300x217 Wry Neck

Wry Neck

Sharp pain that can be felt on one side of the head; pain can radiate on the upper part of the cervical spine downwards.
The difficulty of turning head into the affected part.
Head is skewed away from the affected part due to muscle pain and spasm.

What are the possible home remedies for wry neck?

  • Use warm compresses to the affected area to reduce muscle spasm.
  • Perform active range of motion movements and stretching
  • Have proper posture at all times
  • If needed, over-the-counter pain medications can be used to minimize pain.

If these home remedies did not work, consult a doctor immediately. He/she will do the following:

  • Perform a thorough physical examination of the affected area, assessing the severity wry neck.
  • Assess for any signs of injury, muscle tenderness and/or spasm as well as possible signs of infection.
  • Do mobilization of the affected area in cases of apophyseal wry neck.
  • Perform massaging on soft tissues.
  • Manual traction, depending on the case.
  • Give anti-inflammatory pain relievers if pain persists.
  • If suspects for the presence of infection, can require the following laboratory examinations:
    • Complete blood count
    • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
  • May allow patients to undergo X-ray examination to rule out possible internal neck injury.
  • May use a cervical collar to patients in some cases.

Wry neck may be a sign of underlying pathology. However, most of the cases are just because of improper posture and won’t last long. Most wry necks can be corrected through physiotherapy. Still, consider seeking medical advice for further assessment and management of wry neck.