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spasmodic torticollis
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spasmodic torticollis

physiology
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Quick Summary

Spasmodic torticollis is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, sustained muscle contractions in the neck, causing the head to twist and turn to one side. This condition is believed to result from an overproduction of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the neck muscles.1

While general torticollis can stem from various causes like congenital muscle shortening, fetal positioning, birth trauma, poor posture, or spinal tumors, spasmodic torticollis is specifically a type of dystonia, which affects the basal ganglia in the brain.12

Treatment for spasmodic torticollis often involves injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) into the affected neck muscles, along with medications to alleviate stiffness and spasms.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. torticollis
  2. nervous system disease - Dystonias

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