Acute wry neck, also known as acute torticollis, is a sudden and painful spasm of the neck muscles that causes the head to twist or tilt to one side. It often develops overnight, with patients waking up with a sudden sharp, stiff neck pain and an inability to turn their head. The pain is generally localised to one one-side, and it can sometimes radiate into the shoulder joint or the upper back.
Symptoms can include:
Treatment for acute wry neck typically involves a combination of pain management, physiotherapy and self-care measures like heat therapy and gentle stretching. In some cases, medications such as muscle relaxants or pain relievers may be prescribed by a GP to help manage symptoms.
Most people with acute wry neck will recover fully within a few days to a few weeks with suitable physiotherapy treatment, gentle stretching and self-care measures.
We have two convenient Physiotherapy clinics in Perth.
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