In adults, torticollis is a neck condition that’s typically caused by some sort of neck injury. This condition causes a person’s head to be pulled up and to one side, and this posture makes it very difficult to do normal daily activities. Adult torticollis is more likely to cause pain in the neck and shoulders than torticollis in children. If you’ve developed adult torticollis in Las Cruces, New Mexico, there are two treatment options a physical therapist can offer you.
1. Soft tissue mobilization
When someone has adult torticollis, there are two muscle issues that can be the root cause of this condition. One of these issues is trigger points that have built up in the neck muscles. A trigger point is an area of the muscle where tension has built up, and in some cases, you can feel them as tight knots. Another issue that can cause adult torticollis is adhesions from a neck injury. Adhesions are patches of scar tissue that have developed in a muscle, and these areas of scar tissue can make the muscle stiff and harder to move.
Using soft tissue mobilization, a physical therapist can help treat both of these adult torticollis causes. This technique involves hands-on movements that manipulate the muscles, and this allows therapists to relieve tension in trigger points. Other movements used in this therapy method allow a therapist to break down adhesions to the muscles. By targeting these two issues, therapists can work to restore normal posture to torticollis patients and also reduce the pain of this condition.
2. Spine care and stabilization
Another therapy technique a therapist can use for adult torticollis is spine care and stabilization. In some cases, adult torticollis is caused by an injury that damages multiple facet joints. When torticollis develops, the joints that have been injured are typically on the same side of the neck. The injury of these joints pulls the neck muscles out of alignment and can lead to the posture associated with torticollis.
Using spine care and stabilization, physical therapists can work to return function to injured neck joints. They can also show you exercises that can strengthen some muscles in your neck while relieving tension in others. The combination of these exercises can help you develop a head posture that’s closer to normal, and this is more likely the longer and more often you keep up the exercises.
Find help with adult torticollis treatment at Border Therapy Services in Las Cruces, NM
Border Therapy Services has a clinic on South Telshor Boulevard in Las Cruces, and our team here is ready to help you treat adult torticollis. We can also help treat many other injuries and medical conditions. To start your treatment, our team will perform a free screening of your condition. Then, we’ll use the information uncovered in the screening to create a personalized treatment plan for you, and this plan will be designed to provide benefits like:
- Reduced pain
- Improved mobility
- Increased muscle strength and flexibility
- Improved ability to do normal daily tasks
Are you ready to get our help with your neck issue? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.