WRY NECK (torticollis)
Torticollis is an abnormal position of the head and neck relative to the body and may be due to muscle shortening or spasm from trigger points. Conditions such as postural imbalance, holding the phone to your ear on one shoulder, sleeping in a cold draught, whiplash, joint irritation due to trauma, jarring of the spine or abrupt movement, infection, disc related problems, emotional stress or cold can all lead to a wry neck.
How do I know I have it?
Pain referral, nausea, ringing ears and watery eyes may be experience if trigger points are present. Pain in the affected muscles of the neck and between the shoulder blades may be felt on movement, with range of motion being limited. Turning around to perform head checks in the car is severely affected. If the wry neck is disc related, pain will come on gradually, with the person waking up with the wry neck after sleeping in an awkward posture.
How can massage or pilates help?
Massage works to decrease pain, spasm and abnormal head/neck positioning while working within the client’s pain tolerance. Trigger points are reduced and neck range of motion is increased. Muscle imbalances related to posture are also treated to prevent re-injury.
Pilates can help to teach better neck and shoulder placement and improve movement without pain. Postural imbalances are addressed to encourage correct head placement on the torso.
Anti-inflammatories, ice in the acute phase and heat in the chronic phase may be used to reduce pain, inflammation and increase movement. Chriopractic or osteopathic intervention is suggested if joint issues are involved.
What can I do to prevent injury?
Manage stress more effectively with diaphragmatic breathing, stretch shortened muscles, correct posture and strengthen weakened muscles. Download FREE Workouts for your neck to reduce muscle tension.
Torticollis is an abnormal position of the head and neck relative to the body and may be due to muscle shortening or spasm from trigger points. Conditions such as postural imbalance, holding the phone to your ear on one shoulder, sleeping in a cold draught, whiplash, joint irritation due to trauma, jarring of the spine or abrupt movement, infection, disc related problems, emotional stress or cold can all lead to a wry neck.
How do I know I have it?
Pain referral, nausea, ringing ears and watery eyes may be experience if trigger points are present. Pain in the affected muscles of the neck and between the shoulder blades may be felt on movement, with range of motion being limited. Turning around to perform head checks in the car is severely affected. If the wry neck is disc related, pain will come on gradually, with the person waking up with the wry neck after sleeping in an awkward posture.
How can massage or pilates help?
Massage works to decrease pain, spasm and abnormal head/neck positioning while working within the client’s pain tolerance. Trigger points are reduced and neck range of motion is increased. Muscle imbalances related to posture are also treated to prevent re-injury.
Pilates can help to teach better neck and shoulder placement and improve movement without pain. Postural imbalances are addressed to encourage correct head placement on the torso.
Anti-inflammatories, ice in the acute phase and heat in the chronic phase may be used to reduce pain, inflammation and increase movement. Chriopractic or osteopathic intervention is suggested if joint issues are involved.
What can I do to prevent injury?
Manage stress more effectively with diaphragmatic breathing, stretch shortened muscles, correct posture and strengthen weakened muscles. Download FREE Workouts for your neck to reduce muscle tension.
