How To Ease Torticollis

Torticollis occurs when the cervical muscle contracts and makes the movements of this area limited. One of the first symptoms is swelling of the neck. Therefore, to lower inflammation, one of the treatments you can do yourself is to apply some ice on the affected area.

Ice is a product that has always been used for injuries or swelling and which has great anti inflammatory properties, so it also works in the case of torticollis. Above all you should avoid direct contact with the skin as it can cause burning: it is best to wrap the ice in a cloth and then apply on the area being treated.

Another way to ease torticollis is to take some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin; however, before taking this it is advisable to consult a specialist to let you know if this is the right choice for your case. Self-medication is a bad practice, and is to be avoided to enjoy optimum health.

The pain of torticollis can also be eliminated with the application of hot compresses in the neck area. To do this, you only have to get hold of large absorbent pads and moisten them with hot water, place them on the neck and let them act for 10 to 15 minutes; this way you will get the muscles to relax and the tension to subside.

A gentle massage in the area will also help treat torticollis and relieve its discomfort. You must be careful when doing these massages as they must be soft. We therefore recommended to use essential oils to promote relief: lavender oil is the most advised due to its powerful action in reducing inflammation. If you do not think you can massage yourself well opt for going to a massage expert who will know how to treat the area with the movements you need.

It is also recommended that if you suffer from torticollis you do cervical exercises as they an make the pain subside and will allow you to gain mobility. Here are some exercises for torticollis with which you will feel much better:

• Lower your chin to your chest and place one of your hands on your head to add more pressure to the neck. Hold for up to 30 seconds and then relax.

• Lower the head so that an ear comes closer to the shoulder and put pressure on the side of the head to press it down more. Count to 30 and switch sides.

It is important that you take extreme care of your posture for torticollis to not hurt: try to not make sudden movements and do sit properly in the chair and walk up straight.

If the pain is severe, you can also heal torticollis with a cervical collar. For this, it is important that you go to a doctor so he or she can indicate whether or not it is required; if so you will only have to put one around the neck and use it as long as recommended by your doctor.

There also home remedies for torticollis that will help you feel better by using a series of natural products. Arnica oil, for example, is another essential oils recommended to treat this condition by applying it in the area with a gentle massage. But it can also help to make a camomile or oregano infusion as these get the muscles to relax and the tension to recess.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to How To Ease Torticollis, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.