Symptoms of muscular torticollis

Muscular torticollis is a contraction that occurs in the neck area and that usually appears due to bad posture when sleeping. A bad position of the neck can generate stiffness and a lot of pain when performing any movement.

As the article points out, Update on acute mechanical cervicalgias, muscular torticollis can be produced, even by drafts or forced movements. So taking care of our neck is very important to avoid this painful condition.

Congenital muscular torticollis

Before addressing the characteristic symptomatology of muscle torticollis, it is important that we introduce the term congenital torticollis. This refers to the presence of this condition since a baby is born.

Article Congenital muscular torticollis: plastic surgeon's point of view notes that this condition derives from a certain deformity at birth. The baby has a shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle derived from problems in childbirth.

The only solution, in these cases, is to undergo a surgical operation as soon as possible. For the rest of the body will try to compensate for this shortening of the muscle, causing problems in the spine, for example.

The newborn, as it grows, will manifest in a noticeable way how the head is more inclined for one side than for the other. At the moment of forcing it to straighten itself, there will be a resistance accompanied by a slight pain.

Although if you work you can avoid surgery, in most cases it is the only solution. In any case, it is important to follow the instructions given by the doctor so that the situation evolves in the most favorable way possible for the baby.

Lee: Prepare an ointment to relieve the torticollis

Symptomatology of muscular torticollis

Now that we have seen a type of torticollis that is congenital, we will see the symptomatology that surrounds the torticollis we all know because we have suffered it on some occasion. As well, we will discover how to alleviate this condition.

Limited movement of the head

When we get out of bed after having slept all night and we felt an intense pain in the neck when making a slight movementThis is muscle torticollis. Maybe the head is tilted to the side or we have a reduction in mobility in the area.

If we palpated where it hurts we can notice how the muscle is rigid. In these cases, it is important to avoid sudden movements and shelter the neck well to control the temperature of the area. We can give a gentle massage, too, to reduce discomfort (although this will only be momentary).

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Headache

Muscular torticollis can also cause headaches, especially, if we are prone to have migraines or headaches. This occurs due to the stiffness of the area and that, also, there may be cervical pain.

In these cases it is also important to avoid sudden movements and try to rest the area. If this is not possible and our work requires mobility, we can use a collar. However, this has to be punctual and under no circumstances should the collar increase the pain.

Shoulders at different heights

A final characteristic symptom of torticollis is presenting a shoulder a little higher than the other. This is due to the intense contraction that occurs in the muscle and causes the head to twist to the side.

In this case, you can perform very gentle and controlled stretches to relieve, a little, the discomfort and pain. Also, you have to avoid sudden movements. Although the best will always be rest and rest.

If we choose to use collar, remember that this must be timely. It is not convenient for the neck to remain even more rigid than it already is, because It is essential that little by little we move it without suddenness.

Also, we must not forget that the torticollis improves as the days go by. In fact, usually have a maximum duration of three days, so, with proper care, this problem will disappear sooner than expected.

Maintaining good postural hygiene when sleeping, as well as acquiring a suitable pillow, can reduce the chances of suffering muscular torticollis. However, all of us at some point, if we have not experienced it, it is very possible that we will suffer it.