Torticollis Therapy
Our play-based and parent friendly approach to torticollis therapy focuses on gentle exercises that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine.
We believe evidence based medicine is the best route to achieving you and your baby’s goals. We follow the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy’s Clinical Practice Guideline for torticollis management. Here is the link to CPG for more information targeted for parents and caregivers: Congenital Muscular Torticollis Clinical Practice Guideline & Implementation Resources (pediatricapta.org)
Causes
Torticollis is fairly common in babies and children. Torticollis may be present at birth (congenital). Or it may develop later in infancy or childhood (acquired).
The shortening of one of your baby’s sternocleidomastoid muscles (SCMs) causes congenital torticollis, while acquired torticollis frequently occurs because of swelling in your child’s throat – causing the tissues surrounding your child’s upper spine to loosen.
Other causes of acquired torticollis may include:
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
- Vision problems
- Scar tissue
- Arthritis of the neck (cervical spondylosis)
- Sandifer syndrome, a rare condition that combines GERD with neck spasms.
- Plagiocephaly
Symptoms
Torticollis occurs when your baby’s neck muscles cause their head to turn and rotate to one side. It can be congenital or acquired. It can be congenital or acquired.
Symptoms of Torticollis may include:
- Your baby’s head tilts to one side and chin tilts to the other side.
- Limited movement of your baby’s head and neck.
- Challenges with feeding, especially on one breast vs. the other
- Your child is always looking in one direction
- Neck muscle tightness or stiffness.
- Swollen neck muscles.
- Small pea-sized lump in one of your baby’s neck muscles.
- Uneven (asymmetrical) facial features.
- Neck pain
Treatment
Our torticollis therapy includes the following:
- Range of motion exercises
- Muscle strengthening and neuromuscular re-education exercises
- Motor development exercises
- Feeding assistance
- Equipment recommendations
- Patient and caregiver education
