What is Torticoliss?
Torticollis refers to a shortening of a muscle in the neck, leading to atypical head and neck positioning of your infant. The incidence of torticollis has become much more common since the “Back To Sleep” campaign, with infants spending more time on their back resulting in a decreased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. While the “Back to Sleep” campaign has made a significant impact on decreasing SIDS and should be strictly followed, this increased time spent on their back can reinforce any atypical head position your infant developed while in utero.
This can result in your child preferring to look one direction over the other, often with their head tilted in the opposite direction. While this atypical head positioning may not seem large while your child is an infant, but as your child develops, untreated torticollis can impact a child’s head shape and overall gross motor development, such as crawling, standing, and walking. Early recognition and treatment have shown to be the most effective way to treat torticollis, while your infant is still developing.
How can our physical therapists help with torticollis?
Physical therapy can address common symptoms of torticollis, as well as monitor your child’s overall gross motor development throughout the treatment of torticollis. During your child’s physical therapy session, the may receive:
Manual therapy
Therapeutic exercise
Stretching
Monitoring head shape
Kinesiotape