Why Do My Pictures Always Show My Neck Twisted?

When taking photos, photographers often remind us to stand straight and align our heads, such as tilting our heads in a certain direction. Failure to do so may result in a phenomenon known as "twisted neck" in the photograph. This often correlates with personal habits to some extent, and it may also be due to feelings of nervousness during the photography session. Let's explore the reasons behind this phenomenon.

Why Does the Neck Appear Twisted in Photographs?

1. Vision Issues: One of the first considerations when a head is tilted is whether there are vision problems. Vision issues can lead to a distorted sense of spatial orientation, resulting in compensatory actions such as tilting the head to maintain a level gaze.

2. Dysfunction of the Suboccipital Muscle Group: The suboccipital muscle group is located deep under the occipital bone and neck. Although small, it works together with the deep flexor muscles of the neck to maintain the retracted position of the upper cervical spine. Some believe that this retracted position is a crucial posture in response to fear, shared by most animals, including humans. Dysfunction in the suboccipital muscles can also lead to problems with neck posture.

3. Dysfunction of the Deep Flexor Muscles of the Neck: These muscles, including the longus capitis, longus colli, rectus capitis anterior, and rectus capitis lateralis, are the deepest muscles in front of the cervical spine. They are located anteriorly and laterally to the cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae, and their main function is to flex the neck. Contraction of these muscles can increase pressure on the cervical spine. The longus capitis and longus colli are adjacent to important structures such as the vertebral arteries and sympathetic nerve chains. These muscle groups, like the suboccipital muscles, play a crucial role in spatial orientation and proprioception but are often overlooked.

4. Dysfunction of Cervical Lateral Flexor Muscles: Modern lifestyle habits, such as sleeping on one side, can lead to habitual shortening of the muscles responsible for lateral flexion of the neck, resulting in torticollis. Sternocleidomastoid muscle spasms are a characteristic feature of neck deformities, and spasmodic shortening of these muscles is a primary cause of deformity, often accompanied by partial spasms in the clavicular part of the trapezius muscle.

5. Spinal Scoliosis: Congenital scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine can be caused by factors such as skeletal dysplasia, tuberculosis, tumors, polio, or endocrine disorders. This can also lead to torticollis in children.

What to Do if Your Head Is Always Tilted When Taking Photos?

Patients can examine their neck muscles for asymmetry and hard nodules by touching the sides of their necks. Focus on checking the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which connects one side to the medial end of the clavicle and the other side to the posterior bone of the ear. This muscle is easily injured during childbirth, which can lead to torticollis. If this muscle is the issue, gentle massage may help correct the problem. In severe cases, surgical intervention to release the spasmed muscle may be necessary (this is a minor procedure).