Wry Neck refers to a series of conditions that result in a painfully twisted and tilted neck. Wry Neck may be present from birth due to congenital or anatomical factors, and is referred to as permanent Wry Neck. Wry Neck may also occur during the course of everyday life for people who do not have any predisposing anatomical factors, and this presentation can be quick to resolve. Some people go on to develop recurrent Wry Neck symptoms that eventually become chronic, requiring ongoing management and treatment to ensure their appropriate care. Congenital muscular torticollis is one of the most recognised forms, with prevalence estimates ranging from 0.3% to 2% of newborns (Pradhan et al., 2025).
Wry neck can be inherited, developed in the womb, and can arise from damage to the muscles of the neck or the arteries that supply those muscles with blood. Wry Neck Pain can also be caused as a result of other diseases, such as an ear infection or a cold. Wry Neck that develops as a consequence of other illness is generally quick to resolve, though has the potential of becoming recurrent if not properly addressed and managed. Up to 10% of individuals with acquired torticollis experience persistent or recurrent symptoms (Płomiński et al., 2024). Chronic Wry Neck is a condition that demands long‑term attention rather than short‑term solutions.
Wry Neck may develop slowly, and be characterised by symptoms such as head and neck stiffness, difficulty aligning the head, headache, and dizziness. Headache is reported in nearly 50% of adults with cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction (Ylinen et al., 2007), and dizziness is reported in up to 40% of individuals with cervical spine dysfunction (Reid & Rivett, 2005)
Management of Wry Neck depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. The way your discomfort is managed depends on what’s causing it, how it feels and shifts throughout the day, what tends to ease or aggravate it, and how long you’ve been living with it. All of these details are carefully explored during your first assessment, which sets the foundation for reducing pain and helping you feel more comfortable. From there, your treatment plan is designed specifically for your situation, aiming to ease discomfort, restore pain-free movement, and put strategies in place to lower the chance of future flare-ups.
At Atlas Physio, we focus on giving you clear education, structured support, and consistent monitoring of your progress both in the clinic and at home. We make care easy to access by opening seven days a week, offering evening appointments, providing bulk billing for eligible clients, and ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for WorkCover or TAC clients. Get in touch today to take the first step toward feeling better and moving with confidence, supported by care that is practical, dependable, and designed to deliver lasting results.
REFERENCES
Płomiński, J., Olesińska, J., Kamelska-Sadowska, A. M., Nowakowski, J. J., & Zaborowska-Sapeta, K. (2023). Congenital Muscular Torticollis-Current Understanding and Perinatal Risk Factors: A Retrospective Analysis. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 12(1), 13.
Pradhan, P., Norceide, D. J., Connolly, M., Garayo, T., & Herman, M. J. (2025). Congenital muscular torticollis: A current concept review. SurgiColl, 3(1).
Reid, S. A., & Rivett, D. A. (2005). Manual therapy treatment of cervicogenic dizziness: A systematic review. Manual Therapy, 10(1), 4–13.
Ylinen, J., Takala, E.‑P., Nykanen, M., Hakkinen, A., Malkia, E., Pohjolainen, T., Karppi, S.‑L., Kautiainen, H., & Airaksinen, O. (2007). Active neck muscle training in the treatment of chronic neck pain in women: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 297(19), 2099–2107.