What is Torticollis?
Torticollis, is latin for “twisted neck”, and in its simplest form – that’s what it is. It is a common condition that affects some newborns. Most of the time the problem is mild and it clears up on its own. However, it occurs on a spectrum and if your child is not progressing, you may need to try some intervention. The intervention is centered around positional changes to encourage your baby to use his/her own neck muscles more evenly. The exercises will typically be done daily at home.
How Do You Get Torticollis?
There are some other conditions which are related to torticollis. There is a rise of plagiocephaly over the past couple decades, which is when an infant has a flattening on a part of their head. This a cosmetic result of back sleeping. However, a child with torticollis will have a strong positional preference and tend to always put the pressure on the same location of the head – that is why these conditions often go together.
How Do We Treat Torticollis?
The actual culprit of the problem is a muscle called the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) – which is a neck muscle involved in sidebending and turning. A typical physical therapy plan of care for a child with torticollis starts between 3 and 6 months of age. We will teach the parent or caregiver exercises, holds, positional advice, and general guidance on how to help the condition at home. We will perform certain stretches and exercises with the infant in the office which help stretch, strength, and balance the neck musculature.
