Torticollis may be congenital or acquired. Congenital torticollis is caused by an injury to a newborn's neck during delivery. Acquired torticollis occurs later in life.

Causes of acquired torticollis include:

• Cellulitis of the neck
• Essential tremor
• Head injury
• Cervical lymphadenitis
• Medication side effect
• Neck injury:
• Injury to the sternocleidomastoid muscle
• Neck tumor
• Osteoarthritis