The muscle contractions involved in cervical dystonia can cause your head to twist in a variety of directions, including:  Chin toward shoulder Ear toward shoulder Chin straight up Chin straight down  The most common type of twisting associated with cervical dystonia is when your chin is pulled toward your shoulder. Some people experience a combination of abnormal head postures. A jerking motion of the head also may occur. Many people who have cervical dystonia also experience neck pain that can radiate into the shoulders. The disorder can also cause headaches. In some people, the pain from cervical dystonia can be exhausting and disabling. Causes In most people with cervical dystonia, the cause is unknown. Some people who have cervical dystonia have a family history of the disorder. Researchers have found gene mutations associated with cervical dystonia. Cervical dystonia is also sometimes linked to head, neck or shoulder injuries. Risk factors Risk factors for cervical dystonia include:  Age. While the disorder can occur in people of any age, it most commonly begins after age 30. Your sex. Women are more likely to develop cervical dystonia than are men. Family history. If a close family member has cervical dystonia or some other type of dystonia, you are at higher risk of developing the disorder.  Complications In some cases, the involuntary muscle contractions associated with cervical dystonia can spread to nearby areas of your body. The most common locations include the face, jaw, arms and trunk. People who have cervical dystonia may also develop bone spurs that may reduce the amount of space in the spinal canal. This can cause tingling, numbness and weakness in the arms, hands, legs or feet.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Request an appointment   Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment       Sept. 03, 2021   Print Print  Share on: FacebookTwitter Facebook Twitter Show references Dystonias fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Dystonias-Fact-Sheet. Accessed July 23, 2019. Frontera WR, et al., eds. Cervical dystonia. In: Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 23, 2019. Comella C. Classification and evaluation of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. AskMayoExpert. Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis). Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2019. Comella C. Treatment of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. Botulinum toxins. Facts & Comparisons eAnswers. https://www.wolterskluwercdi.com/facts-comparisons-online/. Accessed July 25, 2019.  Show references  Dystonias fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Dystonias-Fact-Sheet. Accessed July 23, 2019. Frontera WR, et al., eds. Cervical dystonia. In: Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 23, 2019. Comella C. Classification and evaluation of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. AskMayoExpert. Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis). Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2019. Comella C. Treatment of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. Botulinum toxins. Facts & Comparisons eAnswers. https://www.wolterskluwercdi.com/facts-comparisons-online/. Accessed July 25, 2019.   Dystonias fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Dystonias-Fact-Sheet. Accessed July 23, 2019. Frontera WR, et al., eds. Cervical dystonia. In: Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 23, 2019. Comella C. Classification and evaluation of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. AskMayoExpert. Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis). Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2019. Comella C. Treatment of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. Botulinum toxins. Facts & Comparisons eAnswers. https://www.wolterskluwercdi.com/facts-comparisons-online/. Accessed July 25, 2019.  Dystonias fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Dystonias-Fact-Sheet. Accessed July 23, 2019. Frontera WR, et al., eds. Cervical dystonia. In: Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 23, 2019. Comella C. Classification and evaluation of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. AskMayoExpert. Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis). Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2019. Comella C. Treatment of dystonia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 23, 2019. Botulinum toxins. Facts & Comparisons eAnswers. https://www.wolterskluwercdi.com/facts-comparisons-online/. Accessed July 25, 2019.  Related  Associated Procedures   Deep brain stimulation   Electromyography (EMG)   MRI     Products & Services   Book: Back and Neck Health     Related  Associated Procedures   Deep brain stimulation   Electromyography (EMG)   MRI    Associated Procedures   Deep brain stimulation   Electromyography (EMG)   MRI  
muscle contractions involved cervical dystonia can cause head twist variety directions  including:  chin shoulder ear shoulder chin straight chin straight down  common type twisting associated cervical dystonia chin pulled shoulder  people experience combination abnormal head postures  jerking motion head may occur  people who cervical dystonia experience neck pain can radiate shoulders  disorder can cause headaches  people  pain cervical dystonia can exhausting disabling  causes people cervical dystonia  cause unknown  people who cervical dystonia family history disorder  researchers found gene mutations associated cervical dystonia  cervical dystonia linked head  neck shoulder injuries  risk factors risk factors cervical dystonia include:  age  disorder can occur people age  commonly begins age 30  sex  women likely develop cervical dystonia men  family history  close family member cervical dystonia type dystonia  higher risk developing disorder   complications cases  involuntary muscle contractions associated cervical dystonia can spread nearby areas body  common locations include face  jaw  arms trunk  people who cervical dystonia may develop bone spurs may reduce amount space spinal canal  can cause tingling  numbness weakness arms  hands  legs feet                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff request appointment request appointment   diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment       sept  03  2021   print print  share on: facebooktwitter facebook twitter show references dystonias sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/dystonias-fact-sheet  accessed july 23  2019  frontera wr  al  eds  cervical dystonia  in: essentials physical medicine rehabilitation: musculoskeletal disorders  pain  rehabilitation  4th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2019  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 23  2019  comella c  classification evaluation dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  askmayoexpert  cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)  rochester  minn : mayo foundation medical education research; 2019  comella c  treatment dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  botulinum toxins  & comparisons eanswers  https://www wolterskluwercdi com/facts-comparisons-online/  accessed july 25  2019   show references  dystonias sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/dystonias-fact-sheet  accessed july 23  2019  frontera wr  al  eds  cervical dystonia  in: essentials physical medicine rehabilitation: musculoskeletal disorders  pain  rehabilitation  4th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2019  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 23  2019  comella c  classification evaluation dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  askmayoexpert  cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)  rochester  minn : mayo foundation medical education research; 2019  comella c  treatment dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  botulinum toxins  & comparisons eanswers  https://www wolterskluwercdi com/facts-comparisons-online/  accessed july 25  2019    dystonias sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/dystonias-fact-sheet  accessed july 23  2019  frontera wr  al  eds  cervical dystonia  in: essentials physical medicine rehabilitation: musculoskeletal disorders  pain  rehabilitation  4th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2019  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 23  2019  comella c  classification evaluation dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  askmayoexpert  cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)  rochester  minn : mayo foundation medical education research; 2019  comella c  treatment dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  botulinum toxins  & comparisons eanswers  https://www wolterskluwercdi com/facts-comparisons-online/  accessed july 25  2019   dystonias sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/dystonias-fact-sheet  accessed july 23  2019  frontera wr  al  eds  cervical dystonia  in: essentials physical medicine rehabilitation: musculoskeletal disorders  pain  rehabilitation  4th ed  philadelphia  pa : elsevier; 2019  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 23  2019  comella c  classification evaluation dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  askmayoexpert  cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)  rochester  minn : mayo foundation medical education research; 2019  comella c  treatment dystonia  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 23  2019  botulinum toxins  & comparisons eanswers  https://www wolterskluwercdi com/facts-comparisons-online/  accessed july 25  2019    associated procedures   deep brain stimulation   electromyography (emg)   mri     products & services   book: back neck health      associated procedures   deep brain stimulation   electromyography (emg)   mri    associated procedures   deep brain stimulation   electromyography (emg)   mri  
cervical dystonia