Torticollis in adults – how to cure spastic spasm of the neck muscles

Torticollis in adults is a spastic contraction of the neck muscles on one side. Pathology is easy to identify by appearance of the person. His neck tilted to one side, and the head turned to the healthy side.

In adults spastic torticollis may be bilateral, although unilateral variant occurs more frequently. It can be called a child according to the similarity with the symptoms of congenital curved neck of the child.

Symptoms in adults and adolescents

Spastic torticollis in adults occurs due to a dislocation or fracture of the cervical vertebrae trauma, the presence of a malignant tumor of the vertebrae and degenerative-dystrophic diseases (osteochondrosis, spondylosis).

Before starting the treatment of disease, the physician elicits the symptoms:

• Club-shaped thickening in the region of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which is determined by touch;
• Sudden pain or spasms of the neck muscles when turning the head or tilting it;
• the Head is shifted in the opposite direction from the damaged muscles;
• a third of adults appear spasmodic contraction of the muscles of the face.

Given the above symptoms, the specialist selects the treatment of pathology. In children, it can cure easier, as their muscular system is more elastic. In the process of growth the tone of the muscle fibers can be adjusted.

Effective treatment

In adolescents effective treatment "curve" of the neck is performed by the following methods:

• Massage
• physiotherapy
• Manual therapy
• the Use of muscle relaxants.

The Choice of treatment depends on the cause of the disease.

In traumatic injuries of the cervical vertebrae, it is necessary to provide the opportunity for correct healing. Immediately after the injury, the trauma may designate the wearing of the collar Trench. The product prevents the displacement of the vertebrae and prevents the formation of asymmetrical tonus of sternocleidomastoid muscle.

In identifying intervertebral hernia may need surgical treatment. Without him, the teenager will form permanent pain with increased tone neck muscles. In this situation, the torticollis over time will only get worse.

If changes spastic sternocleidomastoid muscle caused by neurological causes, applies the following treatment pathology:

• Normalization of sleep and work;
• to the Correct position in bed (treatment status);
• Frame therapy (the use of correctors neck position)
• Operative resection of the muscle with the ineffectiveness of conservative treatments.

Drug therapy

To cure Krivoshey after 20 years, in addition to massage, physical therapy procedures and manual apply of drugs.

In the presence of neurological diseases are assigned sedatives: relaxers and antidepressants. They are prescribed by a psychiatrist or neurologist, and in a drugstore without a prescription are not sold.

The Mechanism of action of these drugs is blocking the nerve impulses in the muscle fibers. As a result spasm of the muscles relax and the head position is aligned.

To Cure Krivoshey with monotherapy of pharmaceutical products is rarely possible. Disease in adults is triggered by several factors, and its symptoms are combined with manifestations of other diseases. This complicates the treatment of diseases and restricts the use of many psychotropic drugs.

For some time to eliminate spasms of the sternocleidomastoid muscles allow the injection of botulinum toxin. In their application to manage several months to return to the patient's normal head position.

Massage and physiotherapy

Competent massage sternocleidomastoid muscles improves blood circulation and normalizes the tone. However, massage treatments in adults can increase pain in the presence of associated degenerative-dystrophic diseases (osteochondrosis, spondylosis).

You Should understand that spasmodic torticollis represents a periodic or tonic spasm of cervical muscles, so to cure it one massage will not succeed. In adults, rotation of the head at first due to spasm of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, but over time it is joined by a spastic contraction of the other groups.

To heal such a complex pathological changes, you need to apply all existing methods.

while having a massage is appointed electrophoresis with iodine. This trace mineral helps to relax muscle fibers and is antiseptic and prevents bacterial infection.

using manual therapy to correct the subluxations of the vertebrae, which are observed in traumatic injuries and degenerative diseases.

Without physical therapy to cure "curve" neck conservative methods do not work not only in adults but also in children. Developed many complex gymnastics for daily use.They are selected by physician individually for each patient. The task of man – correctness, regularity and thoroughness of the exercises of physical therapy from the torticollis.