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• 2 Dystonia
  • 2.1 Twisted neck
    • 2.1.1 Forms
    • 2.1.2 Causes
    • 2.1.3 Diagnosis
    • 2.1.4 Therapy
  • 2.2 Eyelid spasm
  • 2.3 Writer’s cramp
  • 2.4 Vocal cord spasm
  • 2.5 Spasms of the mouth, tongue and pharynx

Twisted neck

Spasmodic torticollis

Spasmodic torticollis is a technical word meaning “twisted neck”. The epithet “spasmodic" is intended to express the idea that in many cases the head is not only twisted but also that the condition can often be accompanied by hyperkinesia (nutation or trembling of the head), at least in certain movements of the head.

The disorder is characterized by slow rotation of the head about a vertical axis to one side, usually combined with slight inclination of the head, and is classified as a form of focal dystonia. In other cases there is forward or backward tilting of the entire neck. The pattern of movement is occasionally also jerky, so that in some cases there is trembling (tremor) which, depending on the pattern of movement, is called yes-yes, no-no or yes-no tremor. The muscles responsible for the movement increase in thickness (hypertrophy).

Incidence

According to one study, about nine people in 100,000 in Germany are affected by this disease. The actual incidence is estimated to be two to three times that figure. The disease usually appears around the age of 40 and can either develop very quickly (“overnight”) or slowly and progressively over a period of a few months. Tension in the neck or trembling of the head are often the initial symptoms before the abnormal position of the head becomes noticeable.

Also read:

• Forms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Therapy

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Dystonia at work

• Those affected often have acceptance problems

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