Torticollis also known as wryneck is a condition in which your neck is twisted or crooked from the side. In adults, torticollis is caused by neck or back injury while in children or infants it is Congenital Torticollis. If an adult is suffering from acute torticollis, it may heal within 2 to 3 weeks with physical therapy, massage or workout. But if an infant has congenital torticollis, it may last for 6 to 12 months. There are some therapies and massages that can heal your child’s torticollis soon. If you don’t see any improvement then you should consult with pediatrics.
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Treating Torticollis in Adults:
- Do neck rolls and side-neck stretches several times a day: Neck rolls and side neck stretches are very beneficial and effective for treating Torticollis. Do neck rolls and bend your neck such that your ear touches the shoulder. Gradually move your neck and from one shoulder to another. Don’t stretch your neck muscles too hard, otherwise your neck muscles may get stiff and immovable. At least do 5 neck rolls in both directions and 8 side neck stretches every 4 to 6 hours daily. If you have acute torticollis, you should move your neck more than normal. If severe torticollis occurs then you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Get a massage of neck and upper back: Look for a professional massage therapist to get neck and upper back massage to treat torticollis. Massage will reduce muscle stiffness. If you feel pain during massage then tell your massage therapist to change the location or reduce pressure on your neck. Get a massage every 2 weeks. Get a massage from a professional massage therapist instead of any beauty parlor or spa. Massage therapy increases the blood circulation in your neck muscles and reduces stiffness in muscles. Ask your doctor to refer you to a professional massage therapist who knows about your injury and how to treat it.
- Take anti-inflammatory painkillers to ease the pain and stiffness: Take anti-inflammatory painkillers to get rid of pain and stiffness of neck muscles. Take 1 or 2 capsules of NSAID like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen with 1 glass of water. Take another dose every 4 to 6 hours until it heals properly. These medicines have side effects, for example, if you take high doses of ibuprofen for more than one week, it may lead to heart strokes or other diseases. Acetaminophen passes through breast milk so be careful of taking it during pregnancy or while you are breast breastfeeding. If you experience severe pain then consult a doctor for muscle relaxant medicines like diazepam, methocarbamol or tizanidine.
- After an injury, to support your neck Wear a cervical collar: Another treatment of torticollis is wearing a cervical collar. If you had a car accident or any neck injury then you should wear a cervical collar for 1 to 2 weeks to treat chronic torticollis. Consult a doctor to know how long you have to wear a cervical collar and which type of cervical collar is best for treating torticollis. If you have acute torticollis, you may wear a cervical collar for a few days or one week. Don’t wear a cervical collar for more than 2 weeks otherwise other neck muscles will get stiff or weak.
- For at least 10 to 15 minutes, Hold an ice pack onto your neck: Put some ice in an icing bag or frozen veggies bag and apply it on your neck where torticollis happens. Put the ice bag on your neck muscles for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this method every 3 to 4 hours to treat your torticollis. Avoid direct application of ice on your skin because it will cause ice burn on your skin.
2. Correcting Your Baby’s Torticollis:
- Stretch the tight side of your baby’s neck very gently: Lie down your child on back in the crib or on a foamy and comfortable surface. Your baby’s feet facing you. Now stretch your baby’s neck muscles by placing the left hand on the back of the head and right hand on the baby’s left shoulder. Now move the baby’s head slowly by your right hand so that the right ear moves towards the right shoulder. Stop and wait for 30 seconds when you feel resistance in neck muscles. Now stretch the baby’s neck towards the left side and then exchange the position on your hands to move the baby’s head with your left hand. Do this slowly and very gently, if your baby gets fussy, stop immediately. If you see any sign of pain in your baby’s neck then consult a pediatrician.
- Do gentle neck rotations to increase range of motion: Lay your baby’s back on a comfy and padded surface or on your lap. Place your right hand on the right shoulder of the baby and use your left hand to move the baby’s head on the left side. Stop for 30 minutes if you feel any resistance in neck muscles. Do this exercise 3 to 4 times a day to heal stiffness of neck muscle and treat torticollis. Move the baby’s head in both directions slowly. Do this exercise when your baby is relaxed and calm like after a bath.
- See your pediatrician if their torticollis isn’t improving: If the torticollis in your baby’s neck is still not healed after doing neck rolls and side stretches and is still hurting, then you should consult a pediatrician for proper treatment. Doctor will check and give you more tips to correct torticollis. If your baby needs a professional massage therapist then ask your doctor to refer you to the best therapist in the town. Most torticollis will be treated in 8 to 10 months with neck stretches and neck rolls so wait for a while and see the improvement. Pediatrician will suggest a neck x-ray or a cervical collar. Your baby should wear a cervical collar for 2 months to treat torticollis. If your baby is 2 to 3 months old then neck rolls and side stretches are not useful for treating Torticollis. Doctors will suggest frequency-specific microcurrent therapy to treat torticollis and reduce stiffness in muscles. This therapy takes a few minutes and 2 to 3 sessions to heal torticollis.
CONCLUSION:
Torticollis is the type of neck injury that causes muscle stiffness and restricts neck muscle movement. Torticollis in adults is due to neck injury or accident. Neck rolls and side stretches will help heal muscle stiffness. Neck and upper back massage may also give you relief from pain. If you still have torticollis then consult a doctor who will prescribe you