Torticollis and osteopathy

Often assimilated to a vertebral blockage and more particularly a cervical blockage (in the neck region), torticollis is in fact characterized by an abnormally important and continuous contracture of one or several muscles of the cervico-scapular region, between the neck and the shoulders.

It can be very disabling and is a relatively common problem that affects women more than men.

The main muscle involved is the sterno-cleido-occipito-mastoid muscle, which connects the sternum and clavicle (at the base of the neck) to the occiput and mastoid at the skull level (behind the ear), but the trapezius (which connects the shoulder to the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, among other things) may also be involved.

There are four main types of torticollis:

It usually occurs upon awakening and is often the result of a constrained position or exposure to cold. It is accompanied by a decrease in cervical mobility.

Of sudden onset, it is linked to abnormal muscle contractions. It results in the maintenance of an antalgic position with the neck in lateral flexion and/or rotation and an almost impossibility to move the neck.

It is very common in newborns and is related to the maintenance of a rotated and laterally flexed neck position during the last weeks of fetal life.

This type of torticollis occurs following a trauma such as a car accident, or a slightly violent ride, the body reacts to protect the neck area. To do this, the muscles spasm and contract to stabilize the neck as much as possible. The pain is then very sharp and movement is almost impossible.

The most frequent causes of torticollis (except for congenital torticollis) are

• Maintaining an awkward position (e.g. working under a sink),
• Prolonged exposure of the neck to cold and/or wind, particularly in a context of fatigue and/or major stress.
• stress with a change of situation (moving, separation, change of job)
• a trauma: car accident, fall on the buttocks, etc.

The medical treatment does not solve the cause itself but it can bring relief to the patient.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are the most often prescribed. However, even if they relieve, they can have a deleterious effect in the long term, i.e. they damage the tissues... But they also stop the natural inflammation set up by the body to recover faster. So stopping the inflammation can give you short term relief but will make your recovery longer.

The role of your osteopath is very important here. Indeed, thanks to the palpation and the various tests carried out, it will be possible for him to determine the cause or causes of the torticollis, and thus to act on it in order to eliminate the symptoms as soon as possible.

It will also be possible to apply a kinesiotaping bandage to reduce muscle tension and shorten the recovery time following the consultation. Since a few days of rest are generally necessary for a complete recovery.

In the case of congenital torticollis, the role of your osteopath is also fundamental, since rapid treatment will reduce the risk of the child developing significant plagiocephaly (asymmetry of the skull). In extreme cases, however, the treatment of congenital tortiolis may be surgical if the muscle fibers are too short to allow the return to a physiological position.

The role of the osteopath is also to prevent the recurrence of torticollis, so to avoid that a torticollis occurs or returns, it is necessary to maintain the mobility and joint flexibility through simple exercises but also to strengthen your neck.

This is the exercise that we make the rugby player do to strengthen the neck muscles and limit injuries during the game. If you are not a rugby player, it is not serious, practice these exercises every day for a few seconds, your pain will be reduced.

To strengthen your neck, simply hold your head with your hands, push in one direction with your head and counter that movement with your hands or a wall. You can take your head forward (bending) and counter it for a few seconds, then back and to the sides (taking your head in a tilt, as if you wanted to put your head on your shoulder).