What is torticollis in babies?
What is Torticollis in Babies?
Torticollis is an imbalance of the neck musculature which can present as a baby or infant having a preference to look one way or have their head tilted to one side. This can be present at birth or can develop over the first few months of life. One of the neck muscles that is tighter in torticollis is the sternocleidomastoid (SCM). The SCM flexes the neck to the side and rotates the head to the opposite side. But this muscle does not act alone, there are nearly 30 muscles in the cranial and cervical (neck) region that could be affected by torticollis. The tightness of these muscles has been associated with conditions such as cranial deformation (flat head), developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), foot deformities and early motor delays. Thus, early detection and referral to a physical therapist or pediatric specialist are critical for early correction and prevention of future complications.
Torticollis Signs
The signs to look for are:
Preference to look to one side
The head is usually tilted to the opposite side
Difficulty turning the head
Flat head (or plagiocephaly)
Trouble with breast feeding on one side
Preference to roll one direction or to reach with one hand
Facial asymmetries such as one cheek may appear fuller, or one eye may appear smaller
Best Torticollis Baby Exercise
Tummy time plays an important role in babies’ development, and needs to be part of their daily routine. It has many benefits such as visual stimulation, increase of head control and neck strength, and the development of other motor skills such as rolling over, sitting and crawling. For these reasons, a baby needs the opportunity to play on their tummy during waking hours for at least 60 minutes/day by 3 months of age. Check out this article for more torticollis baby exercises.
At Sol Shine PT, we provide an individualized evaluation and specialized treatment for babies with torticollis, flat head and motor delays. Our goals are to educate families on positioning their baby, to promote correct alignment, and to achieve their motor milestones.
Book a consult to let us know how we can help your baby to reach their milestones.