Postural laterality in torticollis and torsion dystonia.

Tests of postural rotational laterality were carried out in 63 patients suffering from torticollis (53) or torsion dystonia with torticollis (10) and in 33 normal subjects. There was a correlation between the predominant direction of postural functions and the direction of the rotatory component of torticollis. Torticollis and torsion dystonia may be due to the release of a postural rotational laterality in pre-disposed subjects and not to a presumed asymmetric lesion of the brain-stem.