A wry neck is very common, and occurs when an individual experiences neck pain and stiffness. Individuals with a wry neck, often have restricted neck range of motion, and often experience spasm or tightness of the surrounding neck muscles. There can be several causes or wry neck pain, but most commonly it is caused by a locked joint in the neck.
Physiotherapy Treatment for Neck Pain
Physiotherapy can be very effective for management of wry neck pain. The joint can often be unlocked immediately, however there can be some residual pain and muscle spasm from the trauma, which can take a little longer to resolve. A Physiotherapist will take a detailed history and complete a comprehensive assessment, to determine the root cause of your wry neck pain. With the information gathered from the assessment, the physiotherapist will develop an individualized treatment plan to treat your wry neck pain. Based on your assessment and your symptoms, your individualized treatment plan may include:
- Manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue release, mobilization or manipulation
- An individualized exercise program including range of motion exercises, muscle strengthening and stretching.
- Education on activity modification, sleep positions and posture
- Modalities such as acupuncture, TENS, ultrasound, heat or ice
Symptoms of Neck Pain
Individuals with wry neck usually experience a sudden onset of pain, usually in the middle of the neck, or the side that is affected. It is also very painful to move the neck and it may be stuck in a certain position, usually forward flexed and away from the side of the pain. Muscle spasms are also quite commonly experienced in individuals with wry neck.
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