December 9, 2021

Torticollis (tortum collum) is characterized by unilateral retraction of the sterno-cleido-mastoid (SMC), leading to an asymmetrical position of the head and neck.

Torticollis (crooked neck) is one of the most common disorders of the neck and is the flexion, extension or twisting of the neck muscles beyond their normal position. In torticollis, the neck tends to twist to one side, causing the head to tilt. Torticollis is accompanied by pain and limited movement of the head.

It is usually the result of weakened muscles due to incorrect posture or overwork. Torticollis generally occurs in both sexes with a slight predisposition to females.

CONTENT:

1. Types
2. Symptoms
3. Treatment
4. Combination therapy

Types

There are several types of torticollis. The type of torticollis can be described depending on the symptoms and the time of onset of the condition. This disease can be common, congenital, spasmodic or symptomatic.

Common torticollis – which occurs after a sudden and forced movement of the neck, after an inappropriate position during sleep. In general, common torticollis does not require specific treatment.

Congenital muscle torticollis (TMC) – is a condition detected in infants, at birth or shortly after. It is characterized by the rotating deformation of the cervical spine with the secondary inclination of the head.

Congenital torticollis is characterized by a unilateral contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscle that forces the child to keep his head tilted toward the affected side. Favoring factors for producing TMC: high birth weight, male gender, pelvic presentation, multiple pregnancy, primiparity, prolonged labor, use of forceps or vacuum.

Therapeutic intervention should be early, to restore normal neck movements and to stop the process of skull deformity, facial asymmetry and asymmetric motor development.

Ultrasound and clinical examination confirm the diagnosis of TMC. Many cases of TMC can be successfully treated with conservative treatment, using active and passive neck stretching, active repositioning, postural control exercises designed to promote head rotation.

Spasmodic torticollis – is a painful condition in which the muscles of the neck contract involuntarily, causing the head to twist or turn to one side. Injection of botulinum toxin into the affected muscles often reduces the signs and symptoms of spasmodic torticollis.

Symptomatic torticollis – is one of the symptoms of a causal disease. Many injuries to the cervical spine or neck region can cause this disease.

Symptoms

Because spasmodic torticollis is an abnormal contraction of the neck muscle, patients will have their head turned to one side, and the neck and shoulder muscles will be tense, causing pain.

There may be muscle spasms in the neck that are sustained or jerky. Other symptoms may include shoulder pain, back pain, headache, neck cramps, muscle tightness, muscle aches or burning sensations.

In infants, symptoms include: tilting the head to one side, flattening the side of the head behind the ear, limited movement of the head and neck, asymmetry of the face, musculoskeletal problems such as hip dysplasia.

Treatment

The treatment for this disease is to relax the muscles in the neck area. Treatments may include medication, physical therapy, stretching exercises, surgery, chiropractic.

In most people, torticollis lasts no more than a few days, but can last up to a few weeks.

Ordinary or common torticollis disappears in less than 3 days after rest and after administration of analgesic and muscle relaxants.

The treatment of spasmodic torticollis consists of physical therapy, which aims to strengthen the muscles. To this is added the same basic treatment as for common torticollis or local injections with doses of botulinum toxin.

Combination therapy

Combination therapy greatly increases the effectiveness of torticollis treatment. Combination therapy combines several procedures, which complement each other. Some procedures are designed to reduce inflammation and pain, others to increase muscle strength, mobility, coordination, endurance or balance.

The treatment consists of a combination of movement therapy, electrotherapy and therapeutic massage. Physical therapy works through postures, stretching, mobilizations and physical exercises to tone the affected muscle.

Physical therapy helps reduce pain and muscle contractions and helps increase range of motion. Laser therapy stimulates blood circulation and helps to remove the adhesion processes.

In more severe cases, surgery on the nerves and muscles of the neck is an option, although the condition may return.

Many people occasionally suffer from pain or stiffness in the cervical area. Sometimes, the causes of neck pain can be spinal deformities, injuries but also a heart attack or meningitis. In many cases, the pain is caused by a wrong posture.

Therefore, it is important to see a doctor, especially if the pain does not improve over time or is accompanied by other symptoms.

The neck is made up of vertebrae that extend from the skull to the trunk. Cervical discs are the ones that absorb shocks. The bones, ligaments and muscles of your neck support your head and allow you to move. Any deformity, inflammation or injury can cause pain or stiffness in the cervical area.

Most of the time, neck pain is not caused by a serious condition and can be relieved in a few days. But in some cases, neck pain may indicate injury or serious illness and may require a visit to the doctor.

CONTENT:

1. Causes
2. How to relieve neck pain
3. How to relieve neck pain at home

Causes

Neck pain caused by injuries
The neck is particularly vulnerable to injury, especially in the event of a fall, car accident and exercise, where the muscles and ligaments in the neck are forced to move outside their normal range.

If the bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae) are fractured, the spinal cord can also be damaged.

Myocardial infarction

Neck pain can also be a symptom of a heart attack, but there are other symptoms in this situation, such as:

• difficulty breathing,
• sweating,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• arm or jaw pain.

If you have these symptoms, call an ambulance immediately. Myocardial infarction is a major medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. People with meningitis often have a fever and a severe headache. Meningitis can be fatal and is a medical emergency.

If you have symptoms of meningitis, seek medical help immediately.

Other causes 

Other causes of neck pain include the following:

• Rheumatoid arthritis – causes pain, swelling of the joints and bone beaks. When they appear in the neck area, they can cause neck pain.
• Osteoporosis – weakens the bones and can lead to small fractures. This condition often occurs in the hands or knees, but can also occur in the neck.
• Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes muscle pain throughout the body, especially in the neck and shoulders.

As you age, your cervical discs may degenerate. This is known as spondylosis or osteoarthritis of the throat.

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spine narrows and puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots as it exits the vertebrae. This may be due to long-term inflammation caused by arthritis or other conditions.

In rare cases, neck pain and stiffness may be due to the following:

• congenital anomalies,
• infections,
• abscess,
• tumors,
• spine cancer.

How to relieve neck pain

Depending on the problem identified at the clinical and paraclinical examination, the treatment may be through physical therapy and physiotherapy exercises, wearing certain collars for the spine or local massage. In advanced cases, where neurological signs also appear, surgical treatment is recommended.

Alternative therapies include:

• acupuncture,
• chiropractic treatment,
• massage,
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

Be sure to seek the advice of a specialist when using these methods.

How to relieve neck pain at home

If you have minor neck pain or stiffness, follow these simple steps to relieve them:

• Apply ice in the first days. After that, apply a hot compress or take a hot shower;
• Take painkillers;
• A few days of rest and avoiding activities that aggravate your symptoms and lifting heavy objects;
• Do neck exercises every day. Slowly stretch your head with sideways and up and down movements;
• Correct your posture;
• Change your position often. Don’t stay in one position for too long;
• Do a light neck massage;
• Use a special neck pillow when sleeping.

Cervical Spondylosis means damage to one or more intervertebral discs. Symptoms of this diagnosis may include: arm pain, shoulder pain, or shoulder pain. This diagnosis is important to treat with a well-developed plan to avoid complications such as degenerative disc disease.

Cervical Spondylosis occurs when the cells of the intervertebral disc stop regenerating. The main cause is the insufficient amount of oxygen, nutrients and water that lead to the aging of those cells. Another factor that could be at the root of cervical disc disease may be a previous neck injury. Beating, stretching or other previous stress on the neck can be a turning point in the progression of this disease.

This disease generally occurs from the age of 45 to 55 years. Both women and men can be affected.

CONTENT:

1. Causes of Cervical Spondylosis
2. What are the symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis
3. What are the methods of diagnosing Cervical Spondylosis

Causes of Cervical Spondylosis

The most common causes of sore throat are dislocations and sprains, and they heal in a few days or weeks. A dislocation or a sprain occurs when a muscle or tendon is irritated by excessive use or overextension.

Common causes of neck pain include:

• Sleeping in the wrong position. A person may wake up in the morning with neck pain due to sleep in an awkward or atypical position that forces the neck.
• Sports injury. If a person suddenly moves his or her neck or is hit by another player in a particular sport, the nerves in the neck may be affected and pain, numbness, and weakness may occur that may radiate to the shoulder and arm.
• Repeated movements. Turning the head in a repetitive manner, such as from side to side while dancing or swimming, can lead to excessive use of the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the neck.

What are the symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis?

The first sign that you may be thinking about having spondylosis is pain. This can be caused by a swollen intervertebral disc or a herniated disc. In the case of cervical spondylosis, you will feel pain in the neck – neck area. At first, it may be more intense when you spend a lot of time standing or when you are tired and may go away after you rest. Over time, however, the pain may persist for long periods if neglected.

Other symptoms that occur if you suffer from spondylosis are:

• headache
• dizziness
• problems in maintaining balance
• stiff neck, stiffness (stiffness) – difficulty moving limbs or spine after a longer period of rest

If you suffer from cervical spondylosis, it is possible that at some point you may notice that the strength of your arms has decreased because this condition can also cause motor disorders. For this reason, it is recommended that you do not ignore any signs of the condition and seek the advice of a specialist who will diagnose and, if necessary, treat the condition.

What are the methods of diagnosing Cervical Spondylosis?

If you recognize any of the above symptoms or suspect that you may be suffering from spondylosis, you need to consult a doctor for a correct diagnosis. The diagnosis of spondylosis is made following a physical and neurological examination.

Physical examination
Your doctor will carefully examine your spine in detail to see if it is in normal shape or not. For this, it will be necessary to sit in various positions, according to the doctor’s instructions – bent forward, sideways, backwards – so that he can notice any irregularity in the case of your spine. The specialist also checks the spine by palpation to see if there are more sensitive or painful areas, swelling and to detect the inflamed area.

Radiography
Radiographs are needed to diagnose spondylosis because they indicate the presence of osteophytes or thinning of the intravertebral disc. Thus, they help to detect the cause and to recommend a correct treatment.

The cold intensifies the pain caused by certain spinal disorders. Spondylosis, herniated disc, kyphosis, scoliosis and discopathy are just some of the diseases of the spine that can worsen with the onset of winter.

It is advisable, if you have problems with your spine, to protect your back very well from the cold air, to wear thick clothes or medical devices that protect you from the cold.

Not only does the cold aggravate the problems in such cases, but also weight lifting, physical and sports activities, excessive weight loss or excessive body weight, constipation, but also cold and flu

CONTENT:

1. Spinal disorders that can be more painful with winter
2. Causes and treatment

Spinal disorders that can be more painful with winter

• Spondylosis

Even if it is not a diagnosis in itself but describes any kind of degeneration of the spine, spondylosis means pain. In addition to pain, problems classified as spondylosis can cause limited mobility of the spine, numbness in the limbs, lack of coordination, difficulty walking or abnormal reflexes.

• Scoliosis

One of the most common diseases in children and adolescents, scoliosis is a deviation in the frontal plane, in the form of “s”, of the spine.

According to the specialist, the symptoms of scoliosis range from asymmetrical spine, shoulders or pelvis, to prominent ribs and scapula on one side of the body and even respiratory problems in severe scoliosis.

• Disc herniation

One of the most common and painful diseases of the spine, herniated disc is a pathology in which a portion of the gelatinous mass moves from the intervertebral lodge “bombarding” the disc or penetrates and even breaks the outer shell (fibrous nucleus) of the disc.

Hernia can occur during a sudden, wrong movement, physical exertion with incorrect body mechanics, but in most cases, the hernia occurs as a result of a long process of wear and tear, caused by incorrect posture, multiple mini-traumas, exposure to cold and current, shocks, stress or special physical exertion.

In most cases, the herniated disc is accompanied by severe pain and the inability to perform normal activities. Be careful, there are situations where the herniated disc does not cause severe pain as it progresses.

• Lumbago

This condition occurs when the nucleus pulposus ruptures the fibrous ring and irritates the posterior ligament covered by ultrasensitive nerve endings.

• Discopathy

It is also a general term that defines the condition of the intervertebral discs regardless of their cause.

The symptoms of discopathy are pain in the spine, whether or not accompanied by a feeling of pressure.

• Lumbosciatica

Lumbar pain that starts abruptly, with severe limitation of movement and impaired sensitivity in the dermatome corresponding to the affected root, with or without motor deficit, is lumbosciatica.

The condition starts suddenly, during exertion or a few hours after exertion and radiates. It is aggravated by physical exertion, movement, coughing, sneezing and even defecation and is relieved by rest. It may be accompanied by numbness and pain in the leg. Over time, in such cases, weakness with muscle hypotrophy may occur.

Causes and treatment

Sedentary lifestyle and extra pounds are the main causes of back pain. More and more young people have these problems.

There is a statistic that shows that 90% of us have a lumbago crisis at least once in our lives and this includes children. But the most prone are those who gain extra pounds and those who stay at the office for a long time without moving and without creating a kind of muscle tone for the supporting muscles.

Most of the time the cause of the pain is a muscular one and then a period of rest with some mobilization exercises, if necessary we pass on the pharmacological side with anti-inflammatory but, in the long run. If the pain persists, it is good to see a specialist who will lead us to physiotherapy, physical therapy, therapeutic massage.

Back pain can be prevented by getting more exercise, creating a good tone for the back and abdomen muscles, exercising at the desk, and getting up from the chair every half hour. They can also be prevented by reducing the weights we lift.

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis associated with psoriasis, being included in the group of spondylitis. Most people first develop psoriasis and then are diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Sometimes joint damage may precede or coincide with a diagnosis of psoriasis.

CONTENT:

1. Causes
2. Symptoms
3. Treatment

Causes

Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis (red spots on the skin covered with silver scales called plaques) are autoimmune conditions.

The immune system protects the body against diseases and infections. In autoimmune diseases, it no longer recognizes its own structures and develops mechanisms that act against these structures.

Genes inherited from parents and grandparents can increase the chances of developing psoriatic arthritis. In the presence of certain genes, the following actions can trigger psoriatic arthritis:

• An infection;
• An accident or trauma;
• Obesity;
• Smoking.

Symptoms

Psoriatic arthritis can cause a number of symptoms. People will often have two or more of these symptoms that can range from mild to severe forms of joint damage.

Inflammatory pain accompanied by swelling and stiffness are the main manifestations that characterize joint suffering. Other symptoms are: dactylitis, inflammation of a tendon, etc.

Inflammation is normally a useful tool for a healthy immune system. This involves the migration of a significant number of molecules and cells to the affected tissue in an attempt to neutralize and remove the aggressor.

At the musculoskeletal level, the damage is present both axially and peripherally. The most commonly affected joints are:

• Small joints in the hands and feet;
• Knee;
• Ankle;
• Elbow;
• Fist;
• Sacroiliac joints;
• Spine.

Non-specific constitutional signs may also be associated, such as:

• Severe and persistent fatigue that does not go through rest;
• Weight loss;
• Lack of appetite.

The severity of the condition can vary considerably from person to person. Some people may have severe joint damage, with deformity and joint ankylosis, sometimes even mutilating, while in other cases joint damage may be limited (1-2 joints). 7% of patients require joint prosthesis surgery.

Treatment

The objective of the treatment is the remission of the disease (lack of its activity) or the minimization of the clinical manifestations, the treatment options being multiple. These involve the administration of symptomatic or activity-altering medication that may be associated with physical recovery.

People react differently to specific treatments, so you may need to try several options to find what works for you.

• Arthritis treatments
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
• Steroid injections in the affected joints;
• Synthetically targeted disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs);
• Orthopedic treatment involving joint prosthesis (operation to replace damaged joints);
• Biological therapies – modifiers of disease activity (recommended when DMARDs have not proven effective).

Treatments for psoriasis:

• Creams and ointments;
• Retinoid tablets;
• Ultraviolet light therapy, also known as phototherapy;
• Some DMARDs and biologic therapies used for arthritis can also help with skin damage.

Lifestyle changes and home remedies are also beneficial. These include:

• Changing the way everyday tasks are performed to protect joints;
• Maintaining a healthy weight;
• Regular exercise;
• Rest and relaxation when needed;
• A proper diet;
• Support from others, such as family, friends or a therapist.

The spine is a vital part of the human body, has the role of supporting the body and protecting the spinal cord, has a unique structure that allows a certain degree of movement without endangering the spinal cord.

The spine performs the following functions:

• support function (supports the torso by giving the individual a characteristic posture)
• protective function (protects the spinal cord against mechanical aggression)
• mobility function (gives the body the opportunity to move and move in space)
• morphological function (the peculiarities of the mechanics of the spine are reflected on the shape and placement of the thoraco-abdominal viscera)

The spine consists of:

• hard bone component (vertebrae that make up the spine)
• muscle component (spine muscles)
• neuro-vascular component (spinal cord, nerve roots, blood vessels)

CONTENT:

1. Hyperkyphosis
2. Stiff Neck
3. Cervicalgia
4. Scoliosis
5. Back pain
6. Herniated Disk

Hyperkyphosis

It is an exaggerated curvature of the thoracic spine. It is presented as a functional deformity that affects people who work for long periods of time sitting on chairs that are not ergonomic. This causes:

• pain
• fatigue
• sensitivity
• chest pain in very severe and advanced cases.

Stiff Neck

It occurs when the cervical nerves become inflamed and manifest as a painful, sometimes high-intensity, lateto-cervical onset.

The most common causes are adopting inappropriate positions accompanied by physical exertion when employees work or excessive exposure to cold, cold air currents. They sit in a position that does not allow the neck muscles to relax.

Cervicalgia

It is a pain that has its origin, in most cases, in the cervical spine, when the position is incorrect and forced for a long time. This condition can also be caused by excessive physical exertion. It manifests through :

• tingling;
• weakness;
• loss of mobility;
• headaches;
• dizziness;
• lack of balance;
• sometimes it can radiate to the shoulder.

Scoliosis

It is the disease in which the spine has a lateral curve, instead of being straight. The curve can be S or C and can evolve over time. Many people have a certain degree of deviation of the spine, and the curves of the spine less than 10 degrees are considered normal deviations of the spine.

Minor to moderate scoliosis may not cause pain, while severe scoliosis may affect breathing, heart, digestive system and especially cause pain.

According to some studies, scoliosis affects over 3% of the world’s population. It usually occurs in young people between the ages of 10 and 20, but also in the elderly.

Back pain

It is an intense pain in the dorsal region of the spine. It usually occurs in people who work long hours in the office or do not use an ergonomic chair. This is usually confused with a simple back pain, which can spread to the ribs or sternum.

Herniated Disk

Herniated disk is an increasingly common disease, it is a neurological condition characterized by sliding of the nucleus pulposus along the spinal cord and spine, which clinically translates into very severe back pain.

It can be the result of trauma to the spine, thus developing cracks in the outer layer of the disc. The gelatinous material inside the disc can be pushed out or it can break into pieces.

Symptoms:

• Very severe pain can usually go down the leg
  weakness, tingling, numbness (then with herniated disc also involves nerve damage)
• if the hernia occurs in the neck, pain and numbness will occur in the shoulders, arms or chest
• if the hernia is localized at the lumbar level, lumbosciatica appears

Herniated disk can occur at any level of the spine but the most common are lumbar and cervical