Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Cervicaldystonia(also calledspasmodic torticollis) is a neurological condition affecting approximately 60,000 people in the United States. The condition causes muscles in the head and neck to contract involuntarily, making the head move forward and backward, or turn to the side.
Symptoms usually start out mild and worsen with time. Treatments include medication and surgery. In some cases, cervical dystonia can temporarily resolve on its own.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical dystonia.
Anupong Thongchan / EyeEm / Getty Images
Types of Cervical DystoniaCervical dystonia is a type offocal dystonia—a movement disorder affecting one or more body areas. Cervical dystonia specifically affects muscles in the neck.
Types of Cervical Dystonia
Cervical dystonia is a type offocal dystonia—a movement disorder affecting one or more body areas. Cervical dystonia specifically affects muscles in the neck.
Symptoms of Cervical Dystonia
Symptoms of cervical dystonia typically are mild at condition onset and may only appear after extended periods of physical exertion, high levels of stress, or when a person is fatigued.Over time, symptoms can start to occur with daily activities and eventually occur at rest. In severe cases, the neck and head can become “stuck” in an involuntary posture.
Within a few months or years, symptoms tend to plateau.
Other involuntary movements can include:
Individuals with cervical dystonia can also have the following:
Approximately 1 in 3 people with cervical dystonia will have symptoms that spread to other areas of the body, such as the arms, face, or jaw.
Other Symptoms of Cervical DystoniaIn addition to muscle spasms, cervical dystonia can also cause the following symptoms:AnxietyDepressionRestless leg syndromeDaytime sleepinessInsomnia
Other Symptoms of Cervical Dystonia
In addition to muscle spasms, cervical dystonia can also cause the following symptoms:AnxietyDepressionRestless leg syndromeDaytime sleepinessInsomnia
In addition to muscle spasms, cervical dystonia can also cause the following symptoms:
What Causes Cervical Dystonia?
The exact cause of cervical dystonia is unknown. However, certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing this condition. Cervical dystonia is more common among 40- to 60-year-old people assigned female at birth and people with a family history of the condition.
How Is Cervical Dystonia Diagnosed?
How Do You Treat Cervical Dystonia?
There’s no cure for cervical dystonia, but medications can help manage the symptoms. Less commonly, this condition is treated with surgery.
Medications
The most effective treatment for cervical dystonia—and other focal dystonias—isBotox (onabotulinumtoxinA). Small amounts of Botox are injected into the affected muscles in the neck to reduce spasms. Results can usually be seen within a few days and last several months.
These include:
Muscle relaxants are also prescribed to help manage symptoms of dystonia. Examples include:
Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)is a surgical procedure that can treat cervical dystonia. It involves placing electrodes into brain structures on both sides of the brain.
These electrodes are connected to stimulators and give off electrical impulses to block the signals that cause cervical dystonia symptoms.
Deep brain stimulation is typically used for people who cannot tolerate the side effects of medications or are no longer seeing improvements in symptoms with the use of medications.
Cervical dystonia is sometimes treated with surgery to destroy small parts of the brain that send signals causing muscles to contract involuntarily. Nerves can also be cut where they attach to the spinal cord or connect with the muscles functioning abnormally to reduce spasms.
Prognosis for Cervical DystoniaCervical dystonia is not life-threatening; however, there is no cure for the disease. Symptoms can go into remission (temporary recovery), but less than 1% of people with this condition will have permanent recovery.
Prognosis for Cervical Dystonia
Cervical dystonia is not life-threatening; however, there is no cure for the disease. Symptoms can go into remission (temporary recovery), but less than 1% of people with this condition will have permanent recovery.
Coping With Cervical Dystonia
There are additional resources available to improve your quality of life with cervical dystonia, such as:
Summary
Cervical dystonia is a neurological condition that causes involuntary muscle spasms in the head and neck. It can also cause pain, headaches, and hand tremors. The exact cause of cervical dystonia is unknown, but it is more common in females and those with a family history.
There is no test to diagnose cervical dystonia. While cervical dystonia is not curable, some treatments help decrease symptoms. The primary treatment is medication. In some cases, surgery is required.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization for Rare Diseases.Cervical dystonia.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dystonia.Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.Cervical dystonia.Ray S, Pal PK, Yadav R.Non-motor symptoms in cervical dystonia: a review.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2020;23(4):449-457. doi:10.4103%2Faian.AIAN_27_20American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dystonia.Bledsoe IO, Viser AC, San Luciano M.Treatment of dystonia: medications, neurotoxins, neuromodulation, and rehabilitation.Neurotherapeutics. 2020;17(4):1622-1644. doi:10.1007%2Fs13311-020-00944-0
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization for Rare Diseases.Cervical dystonia.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dystonia.Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.Cervical dystonia.Ray S, Pal PK, Yadav R.Non-motor symptoms in cervical dystonia: a review.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2020;23(4):449-457. doi:10.4103%2Faian.AIAN_27_20American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dystonia.Bledsoe IO, Viser AC, San Luciano M.Treatment of dystonia: medications, neurotoxins, neuromodulation, and rehabilitation.Neurotherapeutics. 2020;17(4):1622-1644. doi:10.1007%2Fs13311-020-00944-0
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Organization for Rare Diseases.Cervical dystonia.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dystonia.Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.Cervical dystonia.Ray S, Pal PK, Yadav R.Non-motor symptoms in cervical dystonia: a review.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2020;23(4):449-457. doi:10.4103%2Faian.AIAN_27_20American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dystonia.Bledsoe IO, Viser AC, San Luciano M.Treatment of dystonia: medications, neurotoxins, neuromodulation, and rehabilitation.Neurotherapeutics. 2020;17(4):1622-1644. doi:10.1007%2Fs13311-020-00944-0
National Organization for Rare Diseases.Cervical dystonia.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dystonia.
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.Cervical dystonia.
Ray S, Pal PK, Yadav R.Non-motor symptoms in cervical dystonia: a review.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2020;23(4):449-457. doi:10.4103%2Faian.AIAN_27_20
American Academy of Family Physicians.Cervical dystonia.
Bledsoe IO, Viser AC, San Luciano M.Treatment of dystonia: medications, neurotoxins, neuromodulation, and rehabilitation.Neurotherapeutics. 2020;17(4):1622-1644. doi:10.1007%2Fs13311-020-00944-0
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
