Cervical Dystonia in Adults

What Is Cervical Dystonia?

Cervical Dystonia

Affecting the neck

Uncontrollable and sometimes painful muscle spasms caused by incorrect signals from the brain

Symptoms1

  • Head and neck turning, tilting, or jerking
  • Head and neck shaking (spasms)
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Neck and shoulder stiffness

Possible Muscles Involved

Possible muscles involved in cervical dystonia.
Possible muscles involved in cervical dystonia.

4 Common Types of Head Movement1

blue background Head tilts forward (anterocollis)

Head tilts forward
(anterocollis)

blue background Head tilts backward (retrocollis)

Head tilts backward
(retrocollis)

blue background Head turns to the side (rotational torticollis)

Head turns to the side
(rotational torticollis)

blue background Head tilts to the side (laterocollis)

Head tilts to the side
(laterocollis)

Reference

  1. Jankovic J. Treatment of cervical dystonia. In: Brin MF, Comella CL, Jankovic J, eds. Dystonia: Etiology, Clinical Features, and Treatment. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004:159-166.