Cervical Dystonia
Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, affects approximately 125,000 people in the United States.1 Cervical dystonia belongs to a group of movement disorders collectively known as "focal dystonias," that affect more than 300,000 people in North America.2
Risk Factors and Symptoms
Cervical dystonia is characterized by involuntary contractions of the neck muscles that cause twisting, repetitive movements, or abnormal postures of the head. These muscle contractions hinder normal movement and can cause severe, chronic neck pain. Although the exact cause of this disorder is unknown, cervical dystonia is believed to be due to abnormal functioning of the basal ganglia,3 which are deep brain structures involved with the control of movement. Physicians use a variety of tools including function and movement scales, global assessment scales, and pain scales to assess the degree of disease progression and determine which treatment will provide the most benefit to the patient.
Treatment
Cervical dystonia is treated by various medical experts, including neurologists and movement disorder specialists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat specialists), and physiatrists (doctors specializing in physical rehabilitation). While there is no cure for cervical dystonia, there are treatment options that can help relieve the excessive muscle spasms of the neck and shoulder muscles and the associated neck pain. These include BOTOX®
(Botulinum Toxin Type A) injections, benzodiazepines, baclofen (an anti-spasmodic agent), anti-cholinergic agents and surgical denervation. In severe cases, surgeries in which either the nerve cell is removed from the contracting muscle or a section of the muscle itself is removed are recommended in patients who do not respond to less invasive therapy.
Finally, physical therapy is recommended in all patients with dystonia. Stretching exercises and neck braces have been shown to ease the severity of contractions and are recommended in addition to medication and/or other therapies. If you suffer from cervical dystonia, talk to your doctor about treatment options.