Massage For Acute Torticollis

By Shannon Goolsby

Ever wake up with a kink in your neck or have a stiff neck that doesn’t seem to go away or keeps coming back? This could be acute Torticollis.

What is Acute Torticollis?

Torticollis is involuntary muscle spasms or contractions of the neck. The head will tilt or twists to one side, while the chin pulls down towards the shoulder on the opposite side. This typically affects not only the head and neck but can affect the shoulders and back.

Torticollis is often referred to as a stiff neck and often known as Wryneck, Twisted Neck or Loxia.  Other forms of Torticollis include Congenital, Spasmodic and Idiopathic.

Causes of acute Torticollis

·       Improper position of the neck

-          Sleeping wrong

·       Injury to the neck and head

-          Whiplash

·       Over use or tension of the neck muscles

·       Infections or abscesses in the head, neck, throat or upper airway

-          Ear or sinus infection

-          A cold

How long do symptoms last?

In cases of improper position or overuse, symptoms typically resolve within 1 to 2 days. From infections or injury, typically resolution will be within a couple of weeks.

Seek immediate medical attention if the following symptoms occur:

·       Trouble swallowing or breathing

·       Impaired speech

·       Pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the arms and legs

·       Difficulty walking

·       Fever, swollen glands or headache associated with torticollis

·       Mouth or tongue swelling

Western Medicine Approach

Western medicine primarily treats Torticollis through physical therapy and oral anti-inflammatory medications.   In more severe, resistant cases additional medications, botulinum toxin injections and surgery may be used.

Eastern Medicine/TCM Medicine Approach

TCM believe that Torticollis is a stagnation of the blood and Qi of the neck caused by an invasion of cold, wind and damp entering the channels supplying the neck area.

Acupuncture and Cupping of the Ashi and Empirical points with the use of Moxibustion are the treatment of choice in conjunction with Massage Therapy.

With Massage Therapy the SCM, Trapezius, Scalenes and Levator Scapula muscles are massaged and stretched for relief of pain and preventative for reoccurrence.  Contra-indications include:

·       Avoidance of full stretches to the SCM if the Vertebral Artery Test is positive or if the client gets dizzy with stretch

·       Avoidance of the Carotid Artery when treating the SCM

·       Massaging when the muscles are in spasm

References:

·       Vynehealth.com

·       Acupuncture.com

·       Theory.yinyanghouse.com

·       Spacecoast.edu/blog/managing-torticollis-with-massage-therapy.html

·       Massagetherapyreference.com

·       Emedicinehealth.com

·       Healthline.com

·       Mediscape.com

·       Medicalnewstoday.com