By Dr Karli Plowright
(Family Wellness Chiropractor + Exercise Scientist)
Nomad Chiropractic Mosman)
Have you woken up and noticed you can't turn your neck or even your head is tilted down and your chin pointing away from that side?! You have most likely experienced torticollis. This is due to the muscle in your neck, the sternocleidomastoid muscle shortening. There are many types of torticollis and it can occur at any age.
The two main categories of adult torticollis are;
Spasmodic
Acquired (caused by a virus - yes you read the correctly), injury or vigorous movement)
Most commonly I see muscular and/or osseous torticollis, which present in a spasmodic nature. This is most likely due to sleeping on a pillow that is either too soft or too hard. Can also be due to repetitive or sustained head posture, ie looking at a phone or computer screen. Can also be due to irritation or restrictions in the neck joints or muscles. Further to this it can also be from poor neck, shoulder and upper back posture.
Chiropractic care is likely to help with certain types of torticollis. Some treatment options I use here at Nomad Chiropractic are chiropractic adjustments and mobilisations to get the joints moving, soft tissue therapies to release tension in the surrounding muscles and stretching to get the movement back.
Some home care advice for adults with torticollis:
Gentle stretch the tilted side of your head away from the tilt
Shoulder rolls, back and forwards
Try looking to the opposite/none tilted side.
Chin tucks
Click here for some home exercise videos
Questions? Get in touch!
Till next time,
Chiro Karli :)
—————————————————————————
Book in online with your Mosman Chiropractors Lucy Bartlett, Kristin Webb, Olly Kerr & locum Sandy Ghobrial at www.nomadchiropractic.com.au
Located at: Suite 1, 563 Military Road Mosman NSW 2088 (Rear entry)
Ph 02 9969 7503
www.nomadchiropractic.com.au
For More Information head to: www.nomadchiropractic.com.au/chiro-research
*Note: Karli Plowright moved back to WA in December 2022 and as such is no longer a practitioner at Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman. All of the practitioners at Nomad Chiropractic are trained in the above.