Why is one side of my neck stiffer than the other?

When one side of the opposing muscles is stronger than the other, you have a muscle imbalance. For instance, if you regularly use the muscles on one side a lot more than the other, they get stronger muscles – and shorter and tighter. On the other side, the muscles get weaker – and longer and looser.

What causes hard neck muscles?

By far the most common cause of a stiff neck is a muscle strain or soft tissue sprain. In particular, the levator scapulae muscle is susceptible to injury. Located at the back and side of the neck, the levator scapulae muscle connects the neck’s cervical spine with the shoulder.

How do you get rid of torticollis in your neck?

Treatment for torticollis aims to relax the contracted neck muscles involved. Treatments include medication, physical devices, botulinum toxin, physical therapy, stretching exercises, and surgery. In most people, torticollis resolves in several days to a few weeks.

What is Sternocleidomastoid syndrome?

Definition of Sternocleidomastoid Syndrome An acute or chronic condition of neck stiffness with decreased mobility (especially rotation), sometimes accompanied by neck pain or pain in body areas distant from the neck (eyes, temples, throat, ears, nose, shoulders…), nausea, tinnitus, vertigo and torticollis.

What happens if torticollis is not treated?

Left untreated, torticollis can create long-term health issues for the infant, including: Developmental delays. Several key movement milestones may be delayed, including rolling over, sitting up independently, crawling, standing, and walking. Difficulty eating.

What is twisted neck syndrome?

Wry neck, or torticollis, is a painfully twisted and tilted neck. The top of the head generally tilts to one side while the chin tilts to the other side. This condition can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired. It can also be the result of damage to the neck muscles or blood supply.

What virus can cause a stiff neck?

Meningitis. Meningitis is a serious, potentially life-threatening infection of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. Along with fever and a headache, a stiff neck is a common symptom of meningitis.

How long does neck strain take to heal?

With proper treatment and rest, most patients will recover from a neck strain or sprain within four to six weeks. If the strain or sprain is severe, it can take three months or more to fully recover.

What are the symptoms of a stiff neck?

headache,

Why do I wake up with a sore neck?

Most of the time it is caused by too much flexion of the neck when sleeping, which leads to strain of the muscles that run up the two sides of the spine in the neck, which are known as the paraspinal muscles.