Torticollis – Stiff Neck Or “Wry Neck”

Torticollis is a contracted state of the neck muscles producing twisting of the neck, and an unnatural position of the head, usually known as a stiff neck. Chiropractic adjustment procedures correct this condition.  How? Torticollis, or wry neck, is an extremely painful condition of the neck. It is due to anatomical malposition and locking of the vertebrae making it impossible to turn the neck to the right or left forward or backward. It causes rotation of the vertebrae of the neck, wedging of the spinal disc, and the nucleus of the disc has shifted to one side. Many patients mistake this condition for a severe muscle spasm, but how can a patient have this muscle spasm for 3 days, go to a chiropractor, and receive immediate relief, if it were due to muscle spasm?

In this condition the head is cocked like a robin listening for a worm. There is lateral bending of the head and neck to one side and rotation of the head to the opposite side. This causes pain in the capsules and ligaments of the joints in the neck and this in turn causes painful reflex muscular tension.