Torticollis

In torticollis, the muscles on one side of the neck contract and cause the head to be pulled over to one side. The condition is typically accompanied by pain and stiffness in the neck.


Torticollis may develop in babies after a difficult birth involving neck muscle damage. In children, the disorder may be a result of swollen glands in the neck caused by an infection. Torticollis in adults is often caused by physical injury to muscles or by sleeping in an awkward position. The disorder can also be a side effect of certain drugs, such as some tranquilizers. An uncommon cause of the condition is cervical spondylosis, a form of arthritis that affects the bones of the neck.

Your doctor may make the diagnosis from a physical examination. Torticollis in babies will gradually get better with physiotherapy. In adults and older children, painkillers, local heat, massage, and use of a neck collar may help to relieve the muscle spasm. Recovery usually takes only a few days but if torticollis persists, a local injection of botulinum toxin may be given. If the disorder is caused by a particular drug, it will improve once the drug is stopped.